
Author 



Title 



Imprint. 



SHORT SKETCH, 

OF THE LIFE OF 

ELIJAH'SHAW, 



WHO SERVED FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS IN THE NAVY OF THE UNITED 
STATES, TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN 



FOUR DIFFERENT WARS 

BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES & FOREIGN POWERS ; 

NAMELY, 

FIRST-WITH FRANCE, in 1798; 
SECOND— WITH TRIPOLI, from 1802 to 1805 ; 
THIRD— WITH ENGLAND, from 1812 to 1815 ; 
FOURTH— WITH ALGIERS, from 1815 to 1816 : 

AND ASSISTED IN SUBDUING THE PIRATES, FROM IS22 TO lb-2€, 

And in 1843 entered on board the Old Ship Zion, -under a 
New Comnaander, being in the 73d year of his age. 

ROCHESTER : S^!±.: ,, 

STRONG &. DAWSON, PRINTERS. 

1843. 

I 



PREFACE. 

In presenting this publication to the world, the author 
deems it necessary to say at the outset, that the reader will 
be disappointed if he expects to find its narratives given in 
any other than a plain, straight-forward, matter-of-fact 
style. No attempt at flourish has been made. Indeed, 
the want of an ordinary education would forbid such an 
attempt. Still, the author cannot but believe, that the na- 
ture of the narratives here given, can hardly fail to inter- 
est every reader, and especially every true hearted Amer- 
ican reader, embracing as they do, some of the most 
brilliant battles that were ever fought by the Navy of the 
United States. 

The object of the author in thus throwing this work be- 
fore the public, is two fold. In the first place, he believes 
that nothing is so well calculated to keep alive the flame 
of patriotism, which, it is to be presumed, burns in the 
breast of every American, as the occasional perusal of 
the difficulties which, as a nation, we have not only been 
obliged to encounter, but have honorably overcome — and, 
secondly, he is anxious, by the proceeds of the sale of the 
work, to make all the remuneration in his power for the 
kindness he has received from the people of Monroe coun- 
ty, who, when he hungered, gave him meat ; when a 
stranger, took him in ; and when naked, clothed him : — 
for it may as well be remarked, first as last, that the mis- 



IV 

fortunes of the author compelled him, in 1841, to seek an 
asylum in the Monroe County House, where he yet re- 
mains. 

It has passed into a proverb, that *' Republics are un- 
grateful"— -with what justice, every person of common 
intelligence has the means of judging for himself. One 
thing, however, must be admitted by all — the American 
government is neither as liberal as most foreign govern- 
ments, in extending aid to those of its subjects who have 
spent the best years of their lives in its service, nor as 
liberal as it has the means of being. But the author is 
not disposed to complain of this neglect, so far as he is in- 
dividually concerned. Without becoming the recipient 
of his government's favors, he has, until within a year or 
two, succeeded in providing himself with the necessaries 
of life ; and he doubts not that for the brief span of time 
necessarily allotted him here. He who feedeth even the 
fowls of the air, will not suffer him to come to want. 



LIFE, &c. 
CHAP. I. 

Birth and Parentage— Revolutionary War— Continental Money- 
Sufferings incident to settling in a New Country — Commencing 
the World— Loss of three years* wages— New York, Philadel- 
delphia and Baltimore. 

I was born in the State of Vermont, on the 22d day of 
January, 1771. My parents, though poor, bore an irre- 
proachable reputation. I received that kind advice from 
them, which parents who have an interest in the welfare 
of their children, are wont to impart to them ; but as 
soon as my back was turned upon home, I paid little or 
no attention to it. They frequently assured me that if 1 
heeded not their admonitions, I would have abundant rea- 
sons for regretting it through life ; I have found their 
words literally true. 

I was about six years of age at the commencement of 
the Revolutionary War. My father zealously espoused the 
cause of his country, from the outbreak of the difficulties, 
and soon received a Lieutenant's commission. After serv- 
ing four years under his commission, he was taken pris- 
oner at the Horse Neck, about thirty miles from New 
York. His commanding officer at the time, was General 
Putnam. His eldest brother was taken prisoner at the 
same time. After the British gained possession of New 
York, my father and uncle were put on board the old Jer- 
sey ship, then used as a prison ship, and lying at the time 
where the Navy Yard now stands. They remained thus 
in durance through the winter, when actual starvation 
ended the sufferings of my uncle — my father, about the 
the same time, making his escape by swimming ashore. 
A large number of the other prisoners were also starved 
to death. 1 



My father soon joined the service again, receiving a 
Captain's commission, and remained in the service until 
the close of the war. He received his pay in "Conti- 
nental Money,'' and returned to his family. This money 
soon became of no more value than an equal amount of 
waste paper ; and thus was my father cheated out of the 
six or seven years' hard service he had rendered his coun- 
try. 

Shortly after the ratification of peace, my father re- 
moved to the town of Springfield, Otsego county, New 
York. The country was new at the time, and he settled 
on a piece of land in the woods, at least a mile from any 
other house. Being poor, and depending upon his own 
hands for the support of his family, (though, as the old- 
est of the children, I was able to render some assistance,) 
our sufferings were extremely severe. For the first two 
years, we often considered ourselves fortunate, if we got 
even a piece of jonny cake or a potato for supper. 

I remained with my father, until I was nineteen years 
of age, when he gave me my time. I thereupon proceed- 
ed to Albany, but found no situation that pleased me. — 
From Albany, I went down the North River to Hudson, 
where I fell in with a cooper by the name of Thos. Rog- 
ers, and engaged to work one month for him at getting 
out staves. At the expiration of the month, he paid me 
eighteen dollars, the price agreed upon, and advised me 
10 learn the coopering business. He agreed if I would 
stay with him three years, to learn me the trade, and pay 
me six dollars per m.onth for the first year, nine the sec- 
ond, and twelve the third and last. Being satisfied with 
the offer, I entered into articles of agreement to work for 
him the three years upon the terms proposed. 

After remaining with Mr. Rogers for about two and a 
half years, I discovered there was a prospect of his fail- 
ing, and told him I could work no longer without securi- 
ty. He then owed me one hundred and eighty dollars. 
He very readily gave me a bill of sale of a span of hor- 
ses and two cows, the horses being valued at two hundred 
dollars. T felt satisfied, and worked out the remainder of 
my time, and upon settlement found he owed me two hun- 



dred and thirty dollars. He told me he had not the mo- 
ney, and I must sell the property. I accordingly adver- 
tised it, but on the day of sale, his son-in-law came for- 
ward and produced a bill of sale dated six months pre- 
viously to mine ; and of course, I lost every cent of Mr. 
Rogers' indebtedness to me. 

I then went about four miles from Hudson, and hired 
out for six months at eighteen dollars per month ; but by 
working extra hours, completed nvy six months' work in 
four. I received my pay according to agreement, and 
set sail for the city of New York. Here I found employ- 
ment at my trade, and remained about a year. I next 
went to Philadelphia, where I worked about a year — then 
to Baltimore, where I obtained employment for about six 
months — then back to Philadelphia, and after remaining 
there a few days, returned to New York, and commenc- 
ed work again for the man who had before employed me 
there. During the two and a half years I was thus dodg- 
ing about, I laid up little or no money, having found abund- 
ant opportunities for spending it. 



CHAP. II. 

War between the United States and France—Sailing of the Ameri- 
can Squadron from Norfolk to the West Indies — Cruising for the 
enemy — Fall in with and conquer a vessel of superior force — 
" First Impressions" of an engagement — Ultimate wreck of our 
Prize. 

The war between the United States and France, orig- 
inating in an attempt on the part of the latter named coun- 
try, to make us a party in the war she was then waging 
with the despots of Europe, commenced in 1798. At 
that time I was in New York. Thinking it would be a 
fine thing to go to sea, I entered the Navy for two years; 
but actually served in it for twenty-one years, seven 
months and five days, during which time I took a part 
in the difficulties of the United States, 1st, with France — 
2d, with Tripoli— 3d, with Great Britain— 4th, with Al- 
giers — 5th, with the Pirates. 



8 

But I am proceeding rather too rapidly, and must *' be- 
gin at the beginning.'^ I was transferred to the frigate 
Constellation, rated at 36 guns, but actually carrying 44, 
under the command of Commodore Truxtun. The crew 
consisted of three hundred and fifty men, including the 
officers. I went as cooper of the ship. We lay in New 
York about one month, when we sailed for Baltimore, 
and took in the remainder of our sea stores, after which 
we proceeded to Norfolk. 

After remaining at Norfolk a short time, we proceed- 
ed to the West Indies in company with the frigates Uni- 
ted States, the John Adams, the Congress, the Little Ad- 
ams, of 32 guns, the Little York 32, the Connecticut 
36, the Boston 36, and the Gen. Greene 36 ; the brigs Siren 
and Argus, each of 16 guns ; and the schooner Enter- 
prise, of 14 guns. We bid farewell to the United States 
with three hearty cheers, resolved to conquer the French 
or die. Old Neptune favored us with pleasant gales, 
and on the eighteenth day we arrived in sight of the West 
Indies. Our orders were to separate and to cruise off dif- 
ferent islands, and to take, burn, sink or destroy all French 
vessels we encountered, and not to disgrace the American 
colors by hauling them down to an equal force. 

We had been cruising off different islands for about 
three months without finding any game, when we fell in 
with a French ship, the Insurgente, of 50 guns. We hoist- 
ed French colors and stood for her. She immediately 
hauled down her colors and hoisted the American, and 
bore down upon us. We then hauled down the French 
colors and hoisted the American, and made a signal ; but 
she was not able to answer the signal, and made all sail 
she possibly could from us. At the time, we were about 
ten miles from her. We immediately crowded all the 
sail we could, and prepared for a chase. The wind was 
at the rate of ten knots an hour. 

This was about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Before 
sundown, we were within about five miles of the vessel. 
The following was a pleasant, moon-light night, and we 
gained upon the enemy about a mile. Jn the morning, 
we felt convinced that we should be able to bring her in- 



to action before 12 o'clock. We were about half a mile 
to the windward of her ; but seeing our advantage, she 
tacked ship at 8 in the morning, with the view of getting 
the weather gage of us. We also tacked, determined to 
maintain if possible, our favorable position. The enemy 
stood on her course for about five miles, when she squar- 
ed away before the wind, and set studding sails fore and 
aft, at the same time crowding all the sail in her power. 
We immediately followed suit, and rapidly gained upon 
her. About 12 o'clock she commenced firing across her 
stern chasers, which added to her headway ; but as it 
would lessen our speed to fire our bow chasers, we con- 
cluded not to return the salute until we could do it from 
another quarter of the vessel. At the time we were about 
two miles from the Insurgente, and all her shots dropped 
astern of us. 

1 may here remark, that it was now for the first time 
that I wished myself back again in the woods. I was a 
new beginner at the work, and did not like the idea of be- 
ing made a mark for the French to shoot at. I was sta- 
tioned with the ship carpenter at the pumps — it also de- 
volving upon us, if necessary, to use the shot plugs. I did 
not think so much of being at the pumps, as I did of be- 
ing over the side of the vessel stopping the shot holes. — 
Directly we received a shot in the bow, which passed quite 
through, and 1 was ordered to go over and stop the hole. 
This being the first shot we had received, and not relish- 
ing the errand on which I was ordered, I would have giv- 
en my jacket and old tarpaulin to have been on terrajir- 
ma ; but I mustered all the couraged I could, went over 
the bow, and soon succeeded in stopping the hole. By 
the time I had fairly finished the unwelcome job, another 
shot struck the starboard bow, close by the cut-water, and 
not more than five feet from me. I do not know what 
my appearance must have been at that moment, but I can 
assure the reader that my feelings were any thing else 
than agreeable. However, I soon sung out with a great 
deal of apparent courage, "Pass me another shot plug, 
for our French neighbors are beginning to fire very care- 
lessly ;" and this hole, also, 1 soon stopped. 



10 

The French now took in their studding sail, and we 
followed suit. This was to our advantage, as we were to 
the windward. We were now about one and a half miles 
from the enemy. About three o'clock, P. M., we luffed 
up within three-quarters of a mile of her, and gave her 
the first broadside. The shot did good execution. We 
cut her spars, rigging, and hull. We gave her the sec- 
ond broadside, when she hauled her colors up the courses, 
and clewed up her top gallant sail, and commenced ac- 
tion- We manoeuvred to get nearer to her, but not with 
as much success as we wished. We generally gave three 
broadsides to her two, raking her hull to good effect. Her 
shots often struck the water before reaching us, and ris- 
ing from the water, passed over our heads, not doing much 
injury. In the course of half an hour, we got so close 
to her, that we made use of grape shot, double headers, 
bar shot, star shot, canister and round shot, at the same 
charge. We still made sad work with her hull, and our 
small shot passing into her port holes, peppered her men 
nicely. 

About three glasses, (or one hour and a half,; after the 
commencement of the engagement, the enemy struck her 
colors. We lowered our boats for boarding, when she 
hoisted her colors again and renewed the action. By this 
base trick we received considerable damage. We were 
much exposed at the time, little expecting a shot from the 
vessel after she had hauled down her colors, and acknowl- 
edged herself conquered. However, our men were soon 
at their guns again, and we returned the shot, two to one. 
After continuing the action about twenty minutes longer, 
the Insurgente hauled down her colors the second time ; 
but having no idea of being caught by the same trick again, 
we gave he five good broadsides in rapid succession. She 
then hoisted her colors with the union down — a sign 
of distress— and well she might, for her hull was compar- 
tively cut to pieces, and she was taking in water very fast. 
We hauled along side and boarded her ; but still the 
Frenchmen appeared not satisfied, and it was not without 
the shedding of more blood that we compelled them to lay 
down their arms, and confined them in irons below. We 



11 

stopped the leakage as much as possible, and repaired her 
spars and rigging sails; but found it difficult to get her 
into port, she was so much damaged. The port we put 
into was St. Croix. 

The crew of the Insurgente consisted of seven hundred 
men, and she carried fifty guns. We carried forty-four 
guns, and our crew, as before stated, consisted of three 
hundred and fifty men. Our killed and wounded number- 
ed thirty-seven, and those of our enemy three hundred 
and twenty. 

At St. Croix our own vessel and our prize were repair- 
ed. A prize master and one hundred men, including offi- 
cers, were then put on board the latter vessel, and she 
sent to Baltimore, where she arrived safely. She was af- 
terward thorougly repaired and manned with American 
seamen, and started for the West Indies, to join our squad- 
ron. But unfortunately she never reached the place of 
her destination. From the best information that could be 
obtained, she is supposed to have been wrecked upon the 
Florida shoals, and all on board to have perished. Some 
of these shoals extend a great distance from the shore, 
and many vessels have been lost upon them for a want of 
a correct knowledge of them. 



CHAP. III. 



Return to our old Cruising Ground — A French 74 fell in with — Dare 
not risk an Engagement with her — Capture of a French Merch- 
antman — Fired her to prevent her recapture by the 74 — Escape 
from a Net of our own setting — A Gale— Peace between the Uni- 
ted States and France — Return Home. 

After the sailing of our prize for Baltimore, we again 
returned to our old cruising ground, in hopes of falling 
in with another vessel of the enemy ; but having, appa- 
rently, no very great desire to encounter the " Yankee 
boys," as they called us, they kept out of sight for some 
time. One night, however, after we had been out about 
two months, we hove in sight of a French 74, and ex- 
changed a few shots with her — little injury being done on 
either side. We had discovered enough of her to know 



12 

that her force was far superior to ours, and not coveting 
an engagement, we availed ourselves of the darkness to 
get out of her reach. 

In the morning we discovered her about ten miles to 
the leeward of us. She crowded additional canvass, and 
prepared to give us a chase ; but as the Constellation was 
an excellent sailer, we were easily enabled to keep out of 
her way. We did not choose, however, to exhibit the ex- 
tent of our speed, by spreading all our sail, as we were 
in hopes of soon falling in with some of our other cruis- 
ers. But in this we were mistaken. Our enemy discov- 
ered that we were trying to deceive her, and gave up 
the chase. The next day she fell in with the frigate Uni- 
ted States, and a few shots were exchanged between the 
two vessels. From the same motives that influenced us, 
the United States made her escape, and the very next day 
fell in with us. It was unfortunate that we did not keep 
in sight of the enemy, as we could undoubtedly have cap- 
tured her with the assistance of the United States. 

We cruised for several days in sight of the U. States, 
in hopes of encountering the French 74 again, but with- 
out success. We were separated one night in a gale, 
and continued cruising by ourselves for some time, with- 
out seeing any thing of the enemy. 

After being out about three months, we put into Kings- 
ton, on one of the Jamaica islands, for the purpose of 
overhauling our rigging and sail, and to obtain fresh sea 
stores. We afterward repaired to our old cruising ground, 
and soon fell in with a merchant vessel of two hundred 
tons, and carrying fifty-two men and officers. She was 
from Bordeaux, in France, and bound for Cuba, with a 
cargo of silks and fine linen. We had little difficulty 
in taking her, and intended to put into Kingston with her. 
But very much to our chagrin, on the second day after 
this, the French 74, to which allusion has already been 
made, hove in sight ; and the only alternative left us, was 
either to give up our prize, or become a prize ourselves to 
the French. We determined at any rate, that neither 
the merchantman nor her cargo should fall into the hands 
of the French again. She was accordingly ordered along 



13 

side of us, and the men, provisions, and a few bales of 
silks and linens taken off, and fire applied to her. If we 
could have taken her into port, she would have proved a 
rare prize, the value of her cargo having been estimated 
at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

Our French neighbor evidently determined to punish us, 
if possible, for the destruction of her friend, the merch- 
antman, and accordingly crowded all sail and bore down 
toward us. But we had no fears of her, having once ran 
away from her, and knowing that we could do so again. 
All we cared about, was to keep at a safe distance from 
her, in hopes of meeting with another of our cruisers — 
in which event we would have given her battle to her 
heart's content. But the net we were attempting to set 
for her, came near entangling ourselves. On the afternoon 
of the next day, two additional sails were descried from 
our mast head. In hopes that they might be friends, we 
stood for them ; and after approaching sufficiently near, 
made a signal, but it was not answered. Our suspicions that 
the vessels— one of which proved to be a frigate and the 
other a sloop — belonged to the enemy, were soon con- 
firmed, by their answering the signal of our pursuer. — 
The three vessels immediately attempted to surround us, 
but the Constellation proved too fast for them ; and the 
next morning neither of them was to be seen. 

We continued cruising several days, without falling in 
with any vessel. About this time we encountered a se- 
vere gale, and sustained considerable damage. Our main 
top mast, top gallant mast and jib boom, were carried 
away, and our rigging and sail much injured. But the 
most melancholy effects of the gale, were the loss of two 
men overboard, and the killing of one by the carrying 
away of the main top mast. 

We put into a port on the island of Bermuda, to re- 
pair, and while there the frigate United States came in 
dismasted. Having remained here about six weeks, we 
returned to our old field of labor, but cruised four or five 
weeks without seeing any thing of the enemy. We then 
changed our ground more to the windward of the island, 
but with no better success. 

2 



14 

It was now for the first time, that we received news 
that there was some prospect of peace between the two 
countries ; and orders were sent us to return to port and 
hold ourselves in readiness for action again, in case the 
negotiations should fail. We accordingly returned to 
Kingston, and after remaining there about two months, 
news of peace was received, and with it, orders to re- 
turn home. 

We set sail about ten days after this for the city of 
Washington, which place we reached on the nineteenth 
day, having had a very pleasant passage. Four vessels 
of the squadron arrived before we did. The exact num- 
ber of prizes taken by the squadron, I do not now recol- 
lect, but it was quite large. We lost but one vessel. 



CHAP. IV. 

Amount of Prize Money, &c. — An East India Specnlation— Turn 
Ship Carpenter— Return to New York — An old Ship Mate — Make 
the Acquaintance of a Young Lady, and finally Marry her. 

About a week after we arrived at Washington, we were 
paid off and discharged. I had served one year and nine 
months. The amount of my prize money was three hun- 
dred and twenty dollars, and that of my wages about three 
hundred dollars. I designed putting out five hundred dol- 
lars of my money at interest ; but was persuaded to in- 
vest it in an East India vessel, being told that it would 
double, without doubt, in the course of two years. At the 
time, there was a vessel lying at Alexandria, six miles 
below Washington, that was to sail in a few days ; and 
had many pressing invitations to invest my money in her. 
I finally entered into writings with her owners, by which 
it was agreed that they should receive, for the incidental 
expenses of the vessel, their own trouble, &c., all over 
one hundred per cent, that my money should earn, and 
that in the event of the loss of" the vessel, I should claim 
no part of the money thus invested. 

Soon after making this investment, I commenced work 



15 

in the Navy Yard, at the ship carpenters' business. Hav- 
ing a pretty good knowledge of tools, I was paid one dol- 
lar and fifty cents per day. At first, my work principal- 
ly consisted in dressing lumber. After working about three 
months, my wages were raised to two dollars per day. — 
I remained at the same wages some nine months longer, 
when I went to New York. My reasons for doing so, 
were two fold — in the first place, wages were consid- 
erably higher there than at Washington, and secondly, 
nature having blessed me with uncommon strength, when 
any heavy lifting was to be done in the yard at Washing- 
ton, I was always called upon to take a part in it, wheth- 
er it directly pertained to my department of labor or not. 
I may remark in this connection, that at that time I weigh- 
ed two hundred and ten pounds, and could easily carry a 
stick of timber that would require the united strength of 
almost any other two men in the yard. <r 

At New York, I went to work for a man by the name 
of Noah Brown, who was engaged at ship building on a 
larger scale than any other person in that city — giving 
employment to some five hundred men. He paid me two 
dollars and twenty-five cents per day. After working at 
dressing timber and plank for about six months, I changed 
my employment to spar making, wishing to obtain as 
general a knowledge of the ship building business as pos- 
sible. 

A short time after this, I obtained a situation in the 
United States Navy Yard. The work not being as hea- 
vy here, (there being a large number of laboring men 
lying in ordinary, who did most of the drudgery,) and be- 
ing obliged to labor but ten hours in the day, and the pay 
being sure, I very readily consented to a reduction of 
twenty-five cents per day from my former wages. 

vSome three months after this, I received intelligence 
that the vessel in which I had invested my all, while on 
her homeward passage, was wrecked, and her cargo and 
part of her crew lost. Thus were my high anticipations 
of becoming rich so soon and with so little trouble to my- 
self, blasted in a moment. This made my loss, since I 
commenced the world for myself, between eight and nine 



16 

hundred dollars ; and I began to think that fortune had 
no favors in store for me. However, I was not then pen- 
niless, having some four hundred dollars on hand, and 
striving to forget my misfortunes, continued my work 
with as stout a heart as possible. 

About this time I fell in with a young man who was a 
ship mate of mine on board tlie Constellation, when cruis- 
ing off the West Indies. His father lived in Westches- 
ter county, about twenty two miles from New York. He one 
day invited me to accompany him to his father's, on a visit, 
■which invitation I very cheerfully accepted, glad to leave, 
for a brief season at least, the noisy and bustling metrop- 
olis. The ride being a most delightful one, these visits 
were followed up by us every week or two, especially in 
the season of fruit — usually going out on Saturday and 
returning on Monday. During these visits I became ac- 
quaii*ted with a young woman of respectability, who was 
reared in the family of my shipmate's father. Being 
thrown into company so often, an acquaintance necessa- 
rily followed, and this acquaintance soon resulted in a mu- 
tual attachment between us. I do not wish, however, to 
trespass upon the patience of the reader by entering into 
the details of this affair of our affections — suffice it to say, 
we were married. One very prominent motive I had in 
thus changing my condition, was a wish to settle down in 
life, convinced that my roving habits for some years, had 
not, to say the least, added to my coffers, and believing 
that a wedded life would thoroughly wean me from a de- 
sire to renew those habits. 



17 



CHAP. V. 

War between the United States and Tripoli— Sailing of the Squad- 
ron — Arrival off Tripoli — An engagement, resulting in the sink- 
ing of one of the Enemy's Boats, and the capture of another — 
Narrow Escape. 

The difficulties between the United States and Tripoli, 
one of the Barbary States, occurred, it will be recollect- 
ed, in 1801. Our government had previously been obli- 
ged to pay some of the other Barbary States heavy trib- 
utes to induce them to cease their annoying attacks upon 
the American merchant vessels trading in the Mediterra- 
nean ; and the Bashaw of Tripoli, Jessuf Caramaili, of- 
fended because the tribute paid him was not equal to that 
paid some of his neighbors, becam.e arrogant and insult- 
ing in his demands, and renewed his depredations upon 
our vessels. Such conduct was not to be tamely submit- 
ted to by our government ; and a squadron was fitted out 
for the Mediterranean, not only to awe Tripoli by its pres- 
ence, but the other Barbary States. 

The squadron consisted of the following named ves- 
sels : The frigates United States, of 44 guns, the Presi- 
dent 44, the Constitution 44, the Congress 36, the Con- 
stellation 36, the John Adams 36, the Philadelphia 36, 
the Little Adams 22, and the Little York 22 ; the brigs 
Siren 16, the Argus 16, and the Vixen 14 ; the schooner 
Enterprise 14; besides some six or eight vessels for throw- 
ing shells and bombarding. The squadron, as is well 
known, was placed under the command of Commodore 
Preble. 

I entered the Navy in the fall of 1802, (after the war 
had been prosecuted for about a year,) determined to try 
iny fortune once more on the water. This was about 
three months after my marriage. When I first informed 
"my wife of my intentions, it deeply affected her. It was 
"some days before I could reconcile her to the idea ; but 

2* 



IS 

at length she yielded, though in doing so it evidently cost 
her a great effort. And this is not to be wondered at. — 
She had fondly calculated upon my leading a more do- 
mestic life than I had done before ; and to be separated 
from her so soon, was most trying to her feelings. At 
best, 

" A life on the ocean wave" 

is none the most secure ; but when are added to it the 
dangers of war, and war, too, with a barbarous people, 
it becomes in the estimation of a young wife, one of un- 
paralleled hazard. 

I. was transferred to Philadelphia, under the command 
of Commodore Brainbridge. I entered as ship carpen- 
ter, my wages being twenty-two dollars per month. 

My wife accompanied me to Philadelphia, where our 
vessel was built by a donation from the ladies of that city, 
and presented to the United States, and where she was 
then lying. She finally sailed from New Brunswick, in 
the State of New Jersey, whither my wife accompanied 
me. For the few weeks we remained at New Brunswick, 
permission was granted me to spend most of my time on 
shore with my. wife. Before sailing, I gave her three hun- 
dred dollars, and a half-pay ticket, on which she could 
draw every three months one-half of my wages, viz. 
thirty-three dollars. 

Sailing orders were at length received from the Secre- 
tary of the Navy. The squadron was to proceed to Gib- 
ralter, and to await the orders of Commodore Preble. At 
the appointed hour, a farewell having previously been ta- 
ken of our friends, anchors were weighed, and amid sa- 
lutes and cheers from on board and on shore, our sails 
were spread to the wind, and we launched out upon the 
ocean. 

The next day we lost sight of the American shore, tbo' 
not until we had experiencad some severe squalls ; and 
on the forty-seventh day after, if my memory serves me, 
we arrived at Gibralter. Some of the other vessels of 
the squadron, having sailed from other ports, arrived be- 
fore we did, among which was our flag ship. We soon 
afterward received orders to proceed to Syracuse, in Siei- 



19 

ly, to take in water and to make such repairs as were 
needed. Having done so, we weighed anchor for Tripo- 
li — our orders being to take, burn, sink or destroy the 
vessels of the enemy not only, but all vessels that might 
attempt to supply them. 

We cruised off Tripoli until the arrival of our fire 
ships, and commenced operations by throwing shells into 
the city, and by occasionally firing guns at the fort — our 
shots generally being returned, but without any damage 
to us. With the exception of the capture of a Greek 
vessel that was supplying the Turks with provisions, lit- 
tle, however, was done until the arrival of the gun-boats. 
The Turks had about one hundred and fifty gun-boats and 
row-gallies, some of which carried two long thi'-ty-two 
pounders and thirty or forty men ; but they appeared 
much better skilled ia the use of the sword and cutlass, 
than in that of guns. 

Ship number four having no carpenter, I was called 
upon, one day, to go on board of her and make some 
slight repairs. Lieut. Somers accompanied me. The 
vessel at the time was lying about twenty miles from the 
city, and some distance from the rest of the squadron, — 
After the repairs were made, our Commander proposed, 
if volunteers could be raised, to run in and exchange a 
few shots with the Turks. There were but eighteen on 
board, including the Commander, all of whom readily 
volunteered. There was about an eight knot breeze at 
the time. We run in near the battery, though not with- 
in reach of their guns, and lay off and on for some time, 
for the purpose of decoying them out ; and soon had the 
pleasure of seeing two boats push out toward us. Each 
of these boats carried 36 men and two 32 pounders. They 
ventured about four miles from the battery ; but being re- 
solved, apparently, not to get farther from their friends, 
we opened our gun upon them. I say gicriy for we had 
only men enough to work one gun at a time — a thirty-two 
pounder. We had two of that class on board, and when 
one became hot, we used the other. 

The boats of the enemy were very low, and we had to 
take as close aim as we would for a duck. Ninety-two 



20 

shots were fired without any perceptible effect ; but the 
ninety-third struck one of the boats between wind and 
water, and she immediately sunk. The other then steer- 
er for the harbor. We followed her, crowding all the 
sail we could. We gained upon her rapidly ; and when 
within pistol shot, our large and small guns being well 
loaded, we received orders to fire. The fire did tolerable 
execution. I had taken deliberate aim at the Tripolitan 
captain ; but unfortunately my musket exploded, injuring 
my left hand to such an extent as to render the thumb 
and one finger useless, and breaking the first joint of one 
of the fingers on my right hand. 

By this time the boats were along side, and we had or- 
ders to board. I jumped upon the bulwarks of the enemy's 
boat, receiving at the same time a blow from a cutlass, 
on the back part of my ankle, just above the quarters of 
ray shoe, which severed the main cord. 1 immediately 
sprung on the deck, but striking my other foot on one of 
the ring bolts, I broke my ankle directly above the joint. 
Sprawling upon deck, and unable to rise, I discovered the 
Turk from whom I had received the first injury, sit" 
ting between me and the bulwarks. He was wounded in 
one of his legs, and was also unable to rise. He made 
a pass at my head with his cutlass, cutting through my 
hat and a silk handkerchief, and leaving a gash some two 
inches long in my head. I partly recovered, and made 
a thrust at him. He parried the blow, breaking about two 
inches from the end of my cutlass, and making another 
hole through the fore part of my hat. Thinking of my 
pistols, I drew one of them with my left hand, shattered 
as it was, being obliged to use my right in defending my- 
self. I took as good aim as I could, and was fortunate 
enough to give the fellow the entire contents of the pis- 
tol — one ball and three buck shot. He immediately ex- 
pired. 

The rest of the enemy were by this time killed, with 
the exception of seven, who had jumped overboard. We 
took our prize in tow as soon as possible, not being then 
very well prepared to risk a brush with a number of gun- 
boats which had just put out from the battery. These 



21 

boats, however, did not venture very near, as some oF 
our own vessels had already started to our assistance. 
The next day I was taken on board the Philadelphia, 
and my wounds dressed. My messmates gave me three 
cheers as I reached the deck, and "spliced the main 
brace" in other words, treated me to an extra glass of grog. 
There was but one of our men wounded beside myself. 
He received a blow in his right hand, by which he lost 
the use of it. 



CHAP. VI. 

The Philadelphia aground — Capture of her Officers and Crew — De- 
scription of Tripoli — Inhumanity of the Turks toward their Pris- 
oners. 

Not long after the skirmish just narrated, we gave chase 
to a Greek vessel loaded with provisions for the enemy. 
After pursuing her as near the battery as we deemed it 
prudent, without being able to intercept her, our com- 
mander ordered the ship to be put about. While in the 
act of doing so, she most unfortunately ran upon a reef 
of rocks ; and every attempt of the crew, on the spur of 
the moment, to get her off, proved fruitless. We were 
out of reach of the batteries ; but immediately one hun- 
dred or more gun-boats and gallies put out from the shore, 
and completely surrounded us. As our vessel careened 
badly, the guns on one side pointing into the air, and 
those on the other into the water, the Commodore saw 
that resistance was worse than useless, and surrendered 
at once. Here let me remark, that this misfortune is not 
justly attributable to Commodore Brainbridge, as this reef 
was not laid down on the maps and charts of the harbor 
with which he had been furnished. 

On board the Philadelphia were a little over three hun- 
dred souls, about twenty of whom were officers. We 
were immediately forced on board the Turkish gun-boats, 
taken ashore, and confined in prison. We were stripped 
of our clothing, and each man supplied with a frock reach- 



22 

ing the hip, and petticoat-trowsers reaching an inch or 
two below the knee. We were then ironed down to the 
stone floor, twelve men in a room, our feet about twelve 
inches apart, and our hands fastened to an iron passing 
across our breasts, so that we could not turn our bodies on 
either side. 

Each morning our irons were loosed, and we taken out 
into the yard. The prison was surrounded by a small 
wall about twenty feet high, the yard containing about an 
acre of ground. We were permitted to remain in the 
yard about an hour, during which time our daily allow- 
ance of food was served to us. This consisted of a 
biscuit of ground beans and barley, unsifted, and weigh- 
ing about five ounces, three ounces of goat's meat, and 
one gill of sweet oil. We usually soaked our biscuit in 
water, and then ate them with the oil — making one scan- 
ty meal answer for three. This was our manner of liv- 
ing for the nineteen months and seven days we remained 
prisoners. It should be added, however, that we always 
had as much water as we wished, and that, too, of a su- 
perior quality. At the expiration of the hour, the Turks 
would march us back to the prison, iron us down, and al- 
low us to remain in that situation until about sundown, 
when we were again granted an airing of some fifteen 
minutes' duration, after which we would retire to our 
night's rest, if rest it could be called. 

After being thus confined for about two weeks, we were 
put to work, some at carrying bags of sand, and others 
drawing stone, for the completion of the wall around the 
city. The city is about ten miles in circumference, and 
is surrounded with water, with the exception of a narrow 
neck that connects it with the main land. At that time, 
the wall was complete, except about half a mile across 
this neck. The wall was twenty-four feet high, being 
thirty-six feet thick at the bottom, and eighteen at the top. 
On the top of the wall, cannon were mounted, which 
could be brought to bear in any direction. In the front 
part of the city, were three half-moon batteries, the cen- 
tre one mounting one hundred and fifty pieces of can- 
non and three tiers of guns, and the two wings seventy- 
five pieces each. 



23 

' From forty to fifty men constituted a team for each cart. 
These were awkward, clumsy vehicles, the wheels being 
about ten feet in diameter. The v/eight of the stone ran- 
ged from two to four tons, some of them being sixteen 
feet in length and two feet square, and were hoisted un- 
derneath the axeltree by means of a jack-screw. They 
were of a soft nature, and a ball would bury itself in one 
of them as readily as in a hewn log, without cracking 
or materially injuring either the stone or itself. The 
distance we drew them, was about three quarters of a 
mile. We generally drew two loads each day. A guard 
of twelve Turks, armed with muskets, and six drivers 
provided with whips, accompanied each cart. These whips 
were cruel instruments. They were about the size of our 
heavy rawhides, the tip end being split about eight inch- 
es, and three half-hitch knots taken in each strand. The 
Turkish drivers seemed to take great pleasure in the se- 
vere treatment of the "Christian dogs,'' as they called 
us ; and when they thought we did not draw hard enough, 
they applied their whips with an unsparing hand. 

The road was a complete bed of quick sand, in which 
the wheels would settle at least a foot. We worked bare- 
headed and bare-footed; and the climate being very warm, 
our necks and feet were burnt to a perfect blister. Add 
to this the soreness of our backs from the frequent appli- 
cation of the whips, and the famished condition of our 
bodies, and the reader can form some idea of our suffer- 
ings. 



24 



CHAP. VII. 

View of the Philadelphia — Destruction of her, together with seven 
or eight hundred Turks, by Lieut. Decatur — Faithfulness of a 
Greek — Increased Rigor of the Turks toward their Prisoners — 
Turkish Whips and Yankee Fists. 

The first view we had of our ship, was one morning 
while loading stone on a height of ground overlooking 
the harbor. We learned that she had been got off a few 
days after we left her — a rise of the water, caused by a 
heavy gale, having done what the Turks had already des- 
paired of doing. She was then lying within half a mile 
of the battery, and was manned by a large number of 
Turks, whose colors floated aloft. That the sight called 
forth tears and the most poignant reflections, it is hardly 
necessary to add. 

Some two months after this, Lieut. Stephen Decatur 
asked permission of Commodore Preble to cut out or de- 
stroy the Philadelphia. The Commodore doubted the ex- 
pediency of the undertaking ; but finally told Decatur 
that if he could raise, by volunteers, the number of men 
required for the hazardous task, he might venture upon 
it. 

Lieut. Decatur soon succeeded in raising the volunteers, 
for whose use four long boats were provided — each boat 
carrying sixteen muffled oars and twenty-four men, be- 
side officers. The first favorable night he run in and cut 
the cables under water, and had towed her about a quar- 
ter of a mile before the watch discovered that all was not 
right. They then gave the alarm that she was adrift, it 
being so dark that they could not discover the boats. — 
They supposed that she had dragged her anchors ; but 
they soon found that they were mistaken, the cables hav- 
ing evidently parted. The boats having pulled for the 
shipping when the watch first gave the alarm, and being 
out of sight of the Turks in the morning, it was a mys- 



25 

tery to them how the vessel could have parted her cables, 
especially as the weather had not been boisterous. 
- Not satisfied with this attempt, Decatur made another 
a few days afterward ; but being discovered, he was again 
unsuccessful. The Turks had kept a closer watch since 
the parting of their cables, and having a number of gun- 
boats ancliored around the vessel, Lieut. D. was compel- 
led to return to the shipping again ; but did not do so with- 
out being fired upon. Tiie shots, however, did no dam- 
age. 

Some time in the early part of February, 1804, about 
a month after these attempts, Lieut. Decatur proposed the 
destruction of the Philadelphia, by the application of fire 
to her. Commodore Preble reluctantly yielded his assent. 
Obtaining by volunteers sixty daring Yankee boys, the 
Intrepid, a schooner of about ninety tons burden that had 
been taken from the Greeks, ■as assigned him ; and put- 
ting on board twelve barrels or' spirits of turpentine, spir- 
its of wine, &c., he prepared for a final attack. To se- 
cure a favorable issue, a skillful pilot was indispensable. 
Among the prisoners of war, was a Greek, to whom the 
name of John Marshall had been given, and who had 
been a pilot in the service of the Turks. Decatur prom- 
ised Marshall one thousand d /liars per year for life, if he 
would pilot him in safely, and continue true to the Amer- 
ican cause. This he agreed to do. He could talk ve- 
ry good English, and also understood the Turkish lan- 
guage. 

Decatur got every thing in readiness, and on the 13th 
day of that month set sail with as resolute and determin- 
ed a crew as ever met an enemy. About 12 o'clock that 
night, the Intrepid arrived within four or five miles of 
the Philadelphia ; but as the wind was not favorable to 
enable them to lay in and out, they proposed to put to sea 
again, and return the next night. The next night arri- 
ved, and with it a favorable wind. The officers and crew 
were dressed in Turkish style. Thirty of them were ap- 
pointed as boarders, and the remainder were to hoist the 
fire-works onboard. The casks were in slings, and could 
be hoisted at a moment's warning. 
3 



26 

About 12 o'clock the enemy were approached withirs 
hailing distance. They hailed, asking the name of the 
approaching vessel, 'i'he pilot answered in the Turkish 
language, and named one of the Turkish vessels, of about 
the same size, then lying in the harbor. He said he had 
parted his cables, and being afraid he should drift on to 
the rocks, wished them to pass him a warp and haul him 
along side until morning. Not mistrusting the truth of 
the pilot's story, they passed a warp as desired, and the 
Intrepid was soon along side. The pilot then gave the 
signal for boarding, and sprang up the gunway, closely 
followed by Decatur, with his sword in one hand and a 
pistol in the other, determined to take the pilot's life at 
all hazards, should he prove treacherous. Neither Deca- 
tur nor any of the other officers or crew, having any 
knowledge of the Turkish language, their lives depend- 
ed wholly upon the faihtfulness of Marshall. But he 
betrayed them not, though he might easily have done so. 

As soon as he had gained a foot-hold, Marshall knock- 
ed down the sentinel -standing at the gunway. Decatur 
springing forward on the fore castle, also despatched the 
two sentinels who stood there. There were but fourteen 
Turks on deck, and those of them who did not jump over- 
board, were soon killed. The rest were below in their 
berths, and were prevented from coming i.;orr deck, by 
guards being stationed at the hatchways. The fire-works 
were then hoisted on deck, the heads of the casks stove 
in, and the liquid poured down the different hatchways 
and on the deck. A match was then applied, and in a 
moment the deck was one sheet of flame. The boarding 
party immediately jumped into their boat and shoved off, 
no accident having befallen them. They had not pro- 
ceeded more than a mile, before the Philadelphia blew up. 
It is supposed by many, that some of the Turks must have 
applied fire to the magazine, as the fire from the spirits 
could hardly have reached it so soon, the explosion hav- 
ing taken place within fifteen minutes from the time the 
vessel was fired. The guns were all loaded, and went off 
from the intensity of the heat, before the explosion. She 
was lying broadside to the city, and the shot did some 



27 

execution. One ball struck the Bashaw's palace, con- 
siderably damaging it. The number of Turks on board 
the Philadelphia, was about nine hundred, only about six- 
ty or seventy of whom were saved. 

On rising the next morning, the Bashaw was struck 
with amazement. He knew not how to retaliate, except 
by putting his prisoners to death ; and this, it afterward 
appeared, he dared not do. 

We heai-d the guns and explosion from our prison, but 
did not know the cause. We supposed, however, that an 
attack had been made on the city, and that some vessel 
had been blown up. The next morning we were let out 
of our prison as usual to receive our breakfast, dinner and 
supper at one and the same meal, and could easily per- 
ceive by the increased harshness used toward us, that some 
thing had gone wrong with the Turks. 

About 8 or 9 o'clock the next morning, we were bro't 
out, and seized up to be burnt ! Shirts, made of coarse hemp 
cloth, and well saturated with melted brimstone, had been 
provided for each man. These shirts were so stiff, that 
they would readily stand up, when placed on the ground. 
We were kept seized up until about 4 o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, expecting every moment that fire would be ap- 
plied to our combustible garments. But our lives were 
saved by the Commander. He threatened that if we were 
killed, he would not spare a life in the city — that all, high 
and low, old and young, should feel the retributiv e ven- 
geance of the Americans. We were accordingly releas- 
ed, and conducted back to prison again. 

During the remainder of the term of our captivity, it 
was easy to see that we were treated with much more rig- 
or, if possible, than before the destruction of the Phila- 
delphia. A few days after that event, as I was drawing 
as hard as usual at the cart, one of the drivers gave me 
a blow over the shoulders that set quite too snugly for com- 
fort. My frock shirt being wet with sweat, and closely 
adhering to my ba-ck, the blow would hardly have injured 
me less, had my back been bare. In the rage of the mo- 
ment, I gave him a blow with my fist under his ear, that 
brought him upon the sand. He got up, and rubbing his 



2S 

head, muttered some threat that 1 did not understand. — 
The next night, however, I had a very striking transla- 
tion of the Turk's threat. After being ironed down, I 
received one hundred and eighty-two laslies on the bot- 
tom of my feet I The next morning, there were blood- 
blisters on my feet as large as the palm of my hand ; and 
in this condition I was obliged to resume my work in the 
hot sand, bare-footed 1 On another occasion, one of my 
comrades received three hundred lashes for the same of- 
fence. So much for Turkish mercy ! 



CHAP. VIII. 



A Formidable Attack upon Tripoli— Severe Fighting — Gallant Be- 
havior of some of Ihe American Officers — Death of James Decatur 
— Capture of three of the Enemy's Vessels. 

To enable the reader to form an idea of the sanguinary 
nature of some of the engagements between the Ameri- 
cans and the Turks, I shall devote a chapter or two to as 
full an account of three of the principal of those engage- 
ments, as the limits of this work will admit. For a de- 
tailed account of these and the other engagements before 
Tripoli, the reader is referred to the Naval History of 
Mr. Cooper, to whom I am mainly indebted for the ac- 
counts as here given. 

In the latter part of July, 1804, feeling the necessity 
of more vigorous measures than had previously been used, 
Commodore Preble resolved upon making a formidable 
attack upon the city. He assembled his whole force on 
the 25th of that month, and found it to consist of fifteen 
vessels, of different classes, mounting twenty-eight heavy 
long guns, and about twenty lighter ones, all of which 
might be brought to play upon the batteries of the enemy 
simultaneously. The squadron was manned by one thou- 
sand and sixty persons, all told. The Turks had one 
hundred and fifteen guns in battery ; and nineteen gun- 
]ioats, two large galleys, two schooners, and a brig, ail of 



69 

which were well arm^ and manned— beside a host of 
smaller boats. Their disposable force has been estima- 
ted at twenty-five thousand — in other words, about twen- 
ty-five to one against the Americans ! 

On the 3d of August, the squadron ran in and got with- 
in a league of the town, with a pleasant breeze to the 
eastward. The enemy's gun-boats and galley? had come 
outside of the rocks, and were lying there in two divis- 
ions ; one near the eastern, and the other near the west- 
ern entrance, or about half a mile apart. At the same 
time, it was seen that all the batteries were manned, as if 
an attack was not only expected, but invited. 

At half-past 12, the Constitution wore with her head 
offshore, and showed a signal for all vessels to come with- 
in hail. As he came up, each commander was ordered 
to prepare to attack the shipping and batteries. The 
bomb-vessels and gun-boats were immediately manned, 
and such was the high state of discipline in the squadron, 
that in one hour, every thing was ready for the contem- 
plated service. 

On this occasion, Commodore Preble made the follow- 
ing distribution of that part of his force, v/hich was man- 
ned from the other vessels of his squadron : 

One bomb-ketch v/as commanded by Lieutenant Com- 
mandant Dent, of the Scourge. 

The other bomb-ketch was commanded by Mr. Robin- 
son, first lieutenant of the Constitution. 

First Division of gun-boats. — No. 1, Lieut. Com. Som- 
ers, of the Nautilus ; No. 2, Lieut. James Decatur, of the 
Nautilus ; No. 3, Lieut. Blake, of the Argus. 

Second Division of gun-boats. — No. 4, Lieut. Com. 
Decatur, of the Enterprise; No. 5, Lieut. Bainbridge, of 
the Enterprise; No. 6, Lieut. Trippe, of the Vixen. 

At half-past one, the Constitution wore again, and 
stood tov/ard the town. At two, the gun-boats weie crTst 
off, and formed in advance, covered by the brigs and 
schooners, and half an hour later, the signal was shown 
to engage. The attack was commenced by the two bom- 
bards, which began to throw shells into the town. It was 
3* 



30 

followed by the batteries, which were instantly in a blaze, 
and then the shipping on both sides opened their fire, 
within reach of grape. 

The eastern, or most weatherly division of the enemy's 
gun-boats, nine in number, as being least supported, was 
the aim of the American gun-boats. But the bad quali- 
ties of the latter craft were quickly apparent, for, as 
soon as Mr. Decatur steered toward_| the enemy, with an 
intention to come to close quarters, the division of Mr. 
Somers, which was a little to leeward, found it difficult to 
sustain him. Every effort was made by the latter officer, 
to get far enough to windward to join in the attack ; but 
iinding it impracticable, he bore up, and ran down alone 
on five of the enemy to leeward, and engaged them all 
within pistol-shot, throwing shov/ers of grape, canister, 
and musket-balls, among them. In order to do this, as 
soon as near enough, the sweeps were got out, and the 
boat was backed astern to prevent her from drifting in 
among the enemy. No. 3 was closing fast, but a signal 
of recall (bent by mistake) being shown from the Consti- 
tution, she hauled out of the line to obey, and losing 
ground, she kept more aloof, firing at the boats and ship- 
ping in the harbor ; while No. 2, Mr. James Decatur, 
was enabled to join the division to windward. No. 5, 
Mr. Bainbridge, lost her latine-yard, while still in tow of 
the Siren, but, though unable to close, she continued ad- 
vancing, keeping up a heavy fire, and finally touched on 
the rocks. 

By these changes, Lieutenant Commandant Decatur 
(who was actually a Captain at the time, though his pro- 
motion was not known in the squadron, j had three boats 
that dashed forward with him, though one belonged to 
the division of Mr. Somers, viz. No. 4, No. 6, and No. 2. 
The officers in command of these three boats, went stead- 
ily on until within the smoke of the enemy. Here they 
delivered their fire, throwing in a terrible discharge of 
grape and musket-balls, and theorder was given to board. 
Up to this moment, the odds had been as three to one 
against the assailants ; and it was now, if possible, in- 
creased. The brigs and schooners could no longer as- 



31 

sist. The Turkish boats were not only the heaviest and 
the best in every sense, but they were much the strongest 
manned. The combat now assumed a character of chiv- 
alrous prowess and of desperate personal efforts, that be- 
longs to the middle ages, rather than to struggles of our 
own times. Its details, indeed, savor more of the glow 
of romance, than of the sober severity that we are accus- 
tomed to associate with reality. 

Lieutenant Commandant Decatur took the lead. He 
had no sooner discharged his shower of musket-balls, than 
No. 4 was laid alongside the opposing boat of the enemy, 
and he went into her, followed by Lieutenant Thorn, Mr. 
McDonough, and all the Americans of his crew. The 
Tripolitan boat was divided nearly in two parts, by a long 
open hatchway, and as the people of No. 4 came in on 
one side, the Turks retreated to the other, making a sort 
of ditch of the open space. This caused an instant of de- 
lay, and, perhaps, fortunately, for it permitted the assail- 
ants to act together. As soon as ready, Mr. Decatur 
charged round each end of the hatchway, and after a 
short struggle, a portion of the Turks were piked and 
bayoneted, while the rest submitted, or leaped into the 
water. 

No sooner had Mr. Decatur got possession of the boat 
first assailed, than he took her in tow, and bore down on 
the one next to leewai'd. Running the enemy aboard, as 
before, he went into him, with most of his officers and 
men. The captain of the Tripolitan vessel was a large 
powerful man, and Mr. Decatur personally charged him 
with a pike. The weapon, however, was seized by the 
Turk, wrested from the hands of the assailant, and turn- 
ed against its owner. The latter parried a thrust, and 
made a blow with his sword at the pike, with a view to 
cut off its head. The sword hit the iron, and broke al 
the hilt, and the next instant the Turk made another 
thrust. Nothing was left to the gallant Decatur, but his 
arm, with which he so far averted the blow, as to receive 
the pike through the flesh of one breast. Pushing the 
iron from the wound, by tearing the flesh, he sprung 
within the weapon, and grappled his antagonist Tha 



32 

pike fell between the two, and a short trial of strength 
succeeded, in which the Turk prevailed. As the com- 
batants fell, however, Mr, Decatur so far released him- 
self as to lie side by side with his foe on the deck. The 
Tripolitan now endeavored to reach his poniard, while 
his hand was firmly held by that of his enemy. At this 
critical instant, when life or death depended on a moment 
well employed, or a moment lost, Mr. Decatur drew a 
small pistol from the pocket of his vest, passed the arm 
that was free round the body of the Turk, pointed the 
muzzle in, and fired. The ball passed entirely through 
the body of the Mussulman, and lodged in the clothes of 
his foe. At the same instant, Mr. Decatur felt the grasp 
that had almost smothered him relax, and he was liber- 
ated. He sprang up, and the Tripolitan lay dead at his 
feet» 

In such a melee it cannot be supposed that the struggle 
of the two leaders would go unnoticed. An enemy rais- 
ed his sabre to clave the skull of Mr. Decatur, while he 
was occupied by his enemy, and a young man of the En- 
terprise's crew interposed an arm to save him. The blow 
was intercepted, but the limb was severed to a bit of skin. 
A fresh rush was now made upon the enemy, who was 
overcome without much further resistance. 

An idea of the desperate nature of the fighting that 
distinguished this remarkable assault, may be gained from 
the amount of the loss. The two boats captured by Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Decatur, had about eighty men in 
them, of whom fifty-two are known to have been killed 
and wounded ; most of the latter very badly. As only 
eight prisoners were made who w'ere not wounded, and 
many jumped overboard and swam to the rocks, it is not 
improbable that the Turks suffered still more severely. — 
Lieutenant Commandant Decatur himself being wound- 
ed, he secured his second prize, and hauled off to rejoin 
the squadron ; all the rest of the enemy's division that 
were not taken, having by this time, run into the harbor, 
by passing through the openings between the rocks. 

While Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was thus em- 
ployed to windward, his brother, Mr. James Decatur, the 



33 

first lieutenant of the Nautilus, was nobly emulating hia 
example in No. 2. Reserving his fire, liive No. 4, this 
young officer dashed into the smoke, and was on the point 
of boarding, wiien he received a musket ball in his fore- 
head. The boats met and rebounded ; and in the confu- 
sion of the death of the commanding officer of No. 2, 
the Turks were enabled to escape, under a heavy fire 
from the Americans. It was said, at the time, that the 
enemy had struck before Mr. Decatur fell, though the 
fact must remain in doubt. It is, however, believed that 
he sustained a very severe loss. 

In the mean time, Mr. Trippe, in No. 6, the last of the 
three boats that was able to reach the weather division, 
was not idle. Reserving his fire, like the others, he de- 
livered it with deadly effect, when closing, and went on 
board of his enemy in the smoke. In this instance, the 
boats also separated by the shock of the collision, leaving 
Mr. Trippe, with Mr. J. D. Henley, and nine men only, 
on board the Tripolitan. Here, too, the commanders sin- 
gled each other out, and a severe personal combat occur- 
red, while.the work of death was going on around them. 
The Turk was young, and of a large athletic form, and 
he soon compelled his slighter but more active foe to fight 
with caution. Advancing on Mr. Trippe, he would strike 
a blow and receive a thrust in return. In this manner, 
he gave the American commander no less than eight sa- 
bre wounds in the head, and two in the breast ; when, ma- 
king a sudden rush, he struck a ninth blow on the head, 
which brought Mr. Trippe upon a knee. Rallying all 
his force in a desperate effort, the latter, who still retain- 
ed the short pike with which he fought, made a thrust that 
passed the weapon through his gigantic adversary, and 
tumbled him on his back. As soon as the Tripolftan of- 
ficer fell, the remainder of his people submitted. 

The boat taken by Mr. Trippe, was one of the largest 
belonging to the Bashaw. The number of her men is not 
positively known, but, living and dead, thirty-six were 
found in her, of whom twenty-one were either killed or 
wounded. When it is remembered but eleven Americans 
boarded her, the achievement must pass for one of the 
most gallant on record. 



34 

All this time the cannonade and bombardment contin- 
ued without ceasing. Lieutenant Commandant Somers, 
in No. 1, sustained by the brigs and schooners, had forced 
the remaining boats to retreat, and this resolute officer 
pressed them so hard as to be compelled to ware within a 
short distance of a battery of twelve guns, quite near the 
mole. Her destruction seemed inevitable, as the boat 
came slowly round, when a shell fell into the battery, 
most opportunely blew up the platform, and drove the en- 
emy out to a man. Before the guns could be again used, 
the boat had got in tow of one of the small vessels. 

There was a division of five boats and two galleys of 
the enemy, that had been held in reserve within the rocks, 
and these rallied their retreating countrymen, and made 
two efforts to come out and intercept the Americans and 
their prizes, but they were kept in check by the fire of 
the frigate and small vessels. The Constitution main- 
tained a very heavy fire, and silenced several batteries, 
though they re-opened as soon as she had passed. The 
bombards were covered with the spray of shot, but con- 
tinued to throw shells to the last. 

At half-past four, the wind coming round to the north- 
ward, a signal was made for the gun-boats and bomb-ketch- 
es to rejoin the small vessels, and another to take them 
and the prizes in tow. The last order was handsomely 
executed by the brigs and schooners, under cover of a 
blaze of fire from the frigate. A quarter of an hour la- 
ter, tlie Constitution herself hauled off, and ran out of 
gun-shot. 

Thus terminated the first serious attack that was made 
on the town and batteries of Tripoli. Its effect on the 
enemy, was of the most salutary kind ; the manner in 
which their gun-boats had been taken, by boarding, hav- 
ing made a lasting and deep impression. The superior- 
ity of the Christians in gunnery, was generally admitted 
before ; but here was an instance in which the Turks had 
been overcome by inferior numbers, band to hand, a spe- 
cies of conflict in which they had been thought particu- 
larly to excel. Perhaps no instance of more desperate 
fighting of the sort, without defensive armor, is to ba 



35 

found in the pages of history. Three gun-boats were 
sunk in the harbor, in addition to the three that were ta- 
ken, and the loss of the Tripolitans by shot, must have 
been very heavy. About fifty shells were thrown into 
the town, but little damage appears to have been done in 
this way, very few of the bombs, on account of the im- 
perfect materials that had been furnished, exploding. — 
The batteries were a good deal damaged, but the town suf- 
fered no material injury. 

On the part of the Americans, only fourteen were kill- 
ed and wounded in the affair ; and all of these, with the 
exception of one man, belonged to the gun-boats. The 
Constitution, though under fire two hours, escaped much 
better than could have been expected. She received one 
heavy shot through her main mast, had a quarter-deck 
gun injured, and was a good deal cut up aloft. The en- 
emy had calculated his range for a more distant cannon- 
ade, and generally overshot the ships. By this mistake 
the Constitution had her main royal yard shot away. 

On the occasion of the battle of the 3d of August, the 
officers who had opportunities of particularly distinguish- 
ing themselves, were Lieutenants Commandant Decatur, 
and Somers ; Lieutenants Trippe, Decatur, Bainbridge, 
and Thorn, and Messrs. M'Donough, Henly, Ridgley, 
and Miller. But the whole squadron behaved well. 



CHAP. IX. 

Another Attack upon Tripoli — Mode of Defence changed by the En- 
emy — Execution of the guns of the Constitution. 

On the 28th of August, Commodore Preble determin- 
ed upon making another assault upon the town and batte- 
ries, and made preparations accordingly. The gun-boats 
and bombards requiring so many men to manage them, 
the Constitution and the small vessels had been compell- 
ed to go into action short of hands, in the previous affairs. 
To obviate this difficulty, the John Adams had been kept 



36 

before the town, and a portion of her officers and crew, 
and nearly all her boats, were put in requisition, on the 
present occasion. Capt. Chauncy himself, with about 
seventy of his people went on board the flagship, and all 
the boats of the squadron were hoisted out and manned. 
The bombards were crippled and could not be brought in- 
to service, a circumstance that probably was of no great 
consequence, on account of ihe badness of the materials 
they were compelled to use. These two vessels, with the 
Scourge, transports, and John Adams, were anchored 
well off at sea, as not being available in the contempla- 
ted cannonading. 

Every thing being prepared, a little after midnight the 
following gun-boats proceeded to their stations, viz : No. 
1, Capt. Somers ; No. 2, Lieut. Gordon ; No. 3, Mr. 
Brooks, master of the Argus ; No. 4, Capt. Decatur ; 
No. 5, Lieut. Lawrence ; No. 6, Lieut. VVadsworth ; No. 
7, Lieut- Crane ; and No 9, Lieut. Thorn. They were 
divided into two divisions, as beiorje, Capt. Decatur hav- 
ing become the superior officer, however, by his recent 
promotion. About 3, A. M., the gun-boats advanced close 
to the rocks at the entrance of the harbor, covered by the 
Siren, Capt. Stewart, Argus, Capt, Hull, Vixen, Capt. 
Smith, Nautilus, Lieut. Reed, and Enterprise, Lieuten- 
ant Com. Robinson, and accompanied by all the boats of 
the squadron. Here they anchored, with springs on their 
cables, and commenced a heavy fire on the enemy's ship- 
ping, castle and town. As soon as the day dawned, the 
Constitution weighed and stood in towards the rocks, un- 
der a heavy fire t>om the batteries, Fort English, and the 
castle. At this time, the enemy's gun-boats and galleys, 
thirteen in number, were closely and warmly engaged 
with the eight American boats ; and the Constitution, or- 
dering the latter to retire ^y signal, as their ammunition 
was mostly consumed, delivered a heavy fire of round 
and grape on the former as slie came up. One of the 
enemy's boats vv^as soon sunk, two were run ashore to pre- 
vent them from sinking, and the rest retreated. 

The Constitution now continued to stand on, until she 
had run in within musket shot of the mole, when she bro't 



37 

to, and opened upon the town, batteries and castle. Here 
she lay three quarters of an hour, pouring in a fierce fire 
with great eflect, until finding that all the small vessels 
were out of gun-shot, she hauied off. About 700 heavy 
shot were hove at the enemy in this attack, beside a good 
many from the chase-guns of the small vessels. The en- 
emy sustained much damage, and lost many men. The 
American brigs and schooners were a good deal injured 
aloft, as was the Constitution. Although the latter ship 
was so long within reach of grape, many of which struck 
her, she had not a man hurt ! Several of her shrouds, 
back-stays, trusses, spring-stays, chains, lifts, and a great 
deal of running rigging were shot away, and yet her hull 
escaped with very irifling injuries. A boat belonging to 
the John Adams, under the orders of Mr. John Orde 
Creighton, one of that ship's master's mates, was sunk by 
a double-headed shot, which killed three men, and bad- 
ly wounded a fourth, but the officer and the rest of the 
boat's crew were saved. 

In this attack a heavy shot from the American gun-boats 
struck the castle, passed through a wall, and rebounding 
from the opposite side of the room, fell within six inches 
of Com. Baindridge, who was in bed at the moment, and 
covered him with stones and mortar, from under which 
he was taken, considerably hurt, by his own officers. — 
More injury was done the town in this attack, than in ei- 
ther of the others, the shot appearing to have told on 
many of the houses. 

From this time to the close of the month, preparations 
were making to use the bombards again, and for renew- 
ing the cannonading, another transport having arrived 
from Malta, without bringing any intelligence of the ves- 
sels under the orders of Com. Barron. On the 3d of 
September, every thing being ready, at half past two the 
signal was made for the small vessels to advance. The 
enemy had improved the time as well as the Americans, 
and they had raised three of their own gun-boats that had 
been sunk in the affiirs of the 3d and of the 28th of Au- 
gust. These craft were now added to the rest of their 
flotilla. 

4 



zs 

The Tripolitans had also changed their mode of fight- 
ing. Hitherto, with the exception of the affair of the 3d, 
their galleys and gun-boats had lain either behind the rocks 
in positions to fire over them, oral the openings between 
them, and they consequently found themselves to leeward 
of the frigate and small American cruisers, the latter in- 
varibly choosing easterly winds to advance with, as they 
would permit crippled vessels to retire. On the 3d of Au- 
gust, the case excepted, the Turks had been so roughly 
treated by being brought hand to hand, when they evi- 
dently expected nothing more than a cannonade, that they 
were not disposed to venture again outside of the harbor. 
On the 3d of September, however, the day at which we 
have now arrived, their plan of defence was judiciously 
altered. No sooner was it perceived that the American 
squadron was in motion, with a fresh design to annoy them, 
than their gun-boats and galleys got under way, and work- 
ed up to windward, until they had gained a station on the 
weather side of the harbor, directly under fire of Fort 
English, as well as of a new battery that had been erect- 
ed a little to the v.^estward of the latter. 

This disposition of the enemy's force, required a cor- 
responding change on the part of the Americans. The 
bombards were directed to take stations, and to commence 
throwing their shells, while the gun-boats, in two divis- 
sions, commanded as usual, by Capts. Decatur and Som- 
ers, and covered by the brigs and schooners, assailed the 
enemy's flotilla. This arrangement separated the battle 
into two distinct parts, leaving the bomb-vessels very 
much exposed to the fire of the castle, the mole, crown, 
and other batteries. 

The Tripolitan gun-boats and galleys, stood the fire of 
the American flotilla, until the latter had got within reach 
of musketry, when they retreated. The assailants now 
separated, some of the gun-boats following the enemy, 
and pouring in their fire, while others, with the brigs and 
schooners, cannonaded Fort English. 

In the mean while, perceiving that the bombards were 
suffering severely from the undisturbed fire of the guns 
to which they were exposed, Com. Preble ran down in 



89 

the Constitution, quite near the rocks, and within the 
bomb vessels, and brought-to. Here the frigate opened 
as warm a fire as probably ever came out of the broad- 
side of a single-decked ship, and in a position where sev- 
enty heavy guns could bear upon her. The whole har- 
bor, in the vicinity of the town, was glittering with the 
spray of her shot, and each battery, as usual, was silenced 
as soon as it drew her attention. After throwing more 
than three hundred round shot, beside grape and canister, 
the frigate hauled off, having previously ordered the 
other vessels to retire from action, by signal. 

The gun-boats, in this affair, were an hour and fifteen 
minutes in action, in which they threw four hundred round 
shot, beside grape and canister. Lieut. Trippe, who 
had so much distinguished himself, and who had received 
so many wounds that day month, resumed the command 
of No. 6, for this occasion. Lieutenant Morris of the 
Argus, was in charge of No. 3. All the small vessels 
suffered, as usual, aloft, and the Argus sustained some 
damage in her hull. 

The Constitution was so much exposed in the attack 
just related, that her escape can only be attributed to the 
weight of her own fire. It had been found, in the pre- 
vious affairs, that so long as this ship could play upon a 
battery, the Turks could not be kept at its guns ; and it 
was chiefly while she was veering or tacking, that she 
suffered. But, after making every allowance for the ef- 
fect of her own cannonade, and for the imperfect gun- 
nery of the enemy, it creates wonder that a single frig- 
ate could lie opposed to more than double her own num- 
ber of available guns, and these too, principally, of hea- 
vier metal, while they were protected by stone walls. — 
On this occasion, the frigate was not supported by the gun- 
boats at all, and she became the sole object of the ene- 
my's aim, after the bombards had withdrawn. 

As might have been expected, the Constitution suffer- 
ed more, in the attack just recorded, than in any of the 
previous affairs, though she received nothing larger than 
grape in her hull. She had three shells through her can- 



40 

vass, one of which rendered the main-top-sail momenta- 
rily useless. Her sails, standing and running rigging 
were also much cut with shot. Capt. Chauncey, of the 
John Adams, and a party of his officers and crew, serv- 
ed in the Constitution again, on this day, and were of es- 
sential use. Indeed, in all the service which succeeded 
her arrival, the commander, ojtficers and crew, of the 
John Adams were actively employed, though the sliip her- 
self could not be brought before the enemy, for the want 
of gun carriages. 

The bombards, having been much exposed, suffered 
accordingly. No. 1, was so much crippled, as to be un- 
able to move, without being towed, and was near sinking 
when she was got to the anchorage. Every shroud she had, 
was shot away. Com. Preble expressed himself satisfi- 
ed with the good conduct of every man in the squadron. 
All the vessels appear to have been well conducted, and 
efficient in their several stations. Of the effect of the 
shells, there is no account to be relied on, though it is 
probable, that as usual, many did not explode. There is 
no doubt, however, that the bombs were well directed, 
and that they fell into the town. 

While Com. Preble was thus actively employed in car- 
rying on the war against the enemy, the attack just rela- 
ted, having been the fifth made on the town within a month, 
he was meditating another species of annoyance, thai 
about this time was nearly ready to be put in execution. 



41 



CHAP. X. 

The Ketch IntrepiJ— Preparations for her Attack upon the Enemy^s 
Shipping — Her Explosion— Probable Causes of the Disaster. 

The account of the attempt of Lieut. Somers and his 
gallant crew, to send the Intrepid into the harbor of Tri- 
poli, to explode among the enemy's cruisers, cannot fail 
to prove of thrilling, though painful, interest to every 
reader. Full particulars are here subjoined : 

The ketch Intrepid, which had been employed by Mr. 
Decatur in burning the Philadelphia, was still in the 
squadron, having been used of late as a transport between 
Tripoli and Malta. This vessel had been converted into 
an '* infernal/' or, to use more intelligible terms, she had 
been fitted as a floating mine, v/ith the intention of send- 
ing her into the harbor of Tripoli, to explode among the 
enemy's cruisers. As every thing connected with the 
history of this little vessel, as well as with the enterprise 
in which she was about to be employed, will have inter- 
est v/ith the public, we shall be more particular than com- 
mon in giving the details of this affair, as they have 
reached us through public documents, and oral testimony 
that is deemed worthy of entire credit. 

A small room or magazine had been planked up in the 
hold of the ketch, just forward of her j)rincipal mast — 
Communicating with tlys magazine was a trunk or tube, 
that led aft, to another room filled with combustibles. In 
the planked room, or magazine, were placed one hun- 
dred barrels of gunpowder in bulk, and on the deck im- 
mediately above the powder, were laid fifty thirteen and 
a half inch shells, and one hundred nine inch shells, with 
a large quantity of shot, pieces of kentledge, and frag- 
ments of iron of different sorts. A train was laid in the 
trunk, or tube, and fuses v/ere attached in the proper 
manner. In addition to this arrangement, the other small 
4* 



42 

room mentioned was filled with splinters and light wood, 
which, beside firing the train, were to keep the enemy 
from boarding, as the flames would be apt to induce them 
to apprehend an immediate explosion. 

The plan was well laid. It was the intention to profit 
by the first dark night that offered, to carry the ketch as 
far as possible into the galley-mole, to light the fire in 
ihe splinter-room, and for the men employed, to make 
their retreat in boats. 

The arrangements for carrying this project into effect 
appear to have been made with care and prudence. Still 
the duty, on every account, was deemed desperate. It 
v/as necessary, in the first place, to stand in by the west- 
ern or little passage, in a dull-sailing vessel, and with a 
light wind, directly in the face of several batteries, the 
lire of which could only be escaped by the enemy's mis- 
taking the ketch for a vessel endeavoring to force the 
blockade. It would also be required to pass quite near 
these batteries, and, as the ketch advanced, she would be 
running in among the gun-boats and galleys of the enemy. 
It is not necessary to point out the hazards of *uch an 
exploit, as a simple cannonade directed against a small 
vessel filled with powder, would of itself be, in the last 
degree, dangerous. After every thing had succeeded to 
the perfect hopes of the assailants, there existed no ne- 
cessity of eflecting a retreat, the service being one in 
which no quarter could be expected. 

Such a duty could be confided to none but officers and 
men of known coolness and courage, of perfect self-pos- 
session, and of tried spirit. Captain Somers, who had 
commanded one division of the gun-boats in the different 
attacks on the town that have beeii related, in a manner 
to excite the respect of all who witnessed his conduct, vol- 
unteered to take charge of this enterprise ; and Lieuten- 
ant Wadsvv'orth, of the Constitution, and an officer of great 
merit, oflered himself as the second in command. It be- 
ing unnecessary to send in any more than these two gen- 
tlemen, with the few men needed to manage the ketch 
and row the boats, no other officer was permitted to go, 
though it is understood that several volunteered. 



43 

The night of the 4th of September, or that of the day 
which succeeded the attack last related, promising to be 
obscure, and there being a good leading wind from the 
eastward, it was selected for the purpose. Commodore 
Preble appears to have viewed the result of this expedi- 
tion with great anxiet}'-, and to have ordered all its pre- 
parations, with the utmost personal attention to the de- 
tails. This feeling is believed to have been increased by 
his knowledge of the character of the officers who were 
to go in, and who, it was understood, had expressed a de- 
termination neither to be taken, nor to permit the ammu- 
nition in the ketch to fall into the enemy's hands. The 
latter point was one of great importance, it being under- 
stood that the Tripolitans, like the Americans, were get- 
ting to be in want of powder. In short, it was the gene-: 
ral understanding in the squadron, before the ketch pro- 
ceeded, that her officers had determined not to be taken. 
Two fast-rowing boats, one belonging to the Constitution, 
that pulled six oars, and one belonging to the Siren, that 
pulled four oars, were chosen to bring the party off, and 
their crews were volunteers from the Constitution and 
Nautilus. At the last moment, Mr. Israel, an ardent 
young officer, whose application to go in had been re- 
jected, found means to get on board the ketch, and in 
consideration of his gallantry, he was permitted to join 
the party. 

When all was ready, or about 8 o'clock in the evening 
of the day just mentioned, the Intrepid was under way, 
with the Argus, Vixen, and Nautilus in company. Short- 
ly after, the Siren also weighed, by a special order from 
the commodore, and stood in toward the western passage, 
or that by which the ke'tch was to enter, where she remain- 
ed to look out for the boats. 

The Nautilus, Captain Somers' own vessel, accompa- 
nied the ketch close in, but, on reaching a position where 
there was danger of her creating suspicions by being seen, 
she hauled off, to take her station, like the other small 
vessels, near the rocks, in order to pickup the retreating 
boats. The last person of the squadron who had any 
communication with Captain Somers, was Mr. Washing 



44 

ton Reed, the first lieutenant of his own schooner, the 
Nautilus, who left him about 9 o'clock. At that time, 
all was calm, collected, and in order, on board the ** in- 
fernal." The general uneasiness was increased by the 
circumstance that three gun-boats lay near the entrance ; 
and some of the last words of the experienced Decatur» 
before taking leave of his friend, were to caution him 
against these enemies. 

The sea was covered with a dense haze, though the 
stars were visible, and the last that may be said to have 
been seen of the Intrepid, was the shadowy forms of her 
canvass, as she steered slowly, but steadily, into the ob- 
scurity, where the eyes of the many anxious spectators 
fancied they could still trace her dim outline, most prob- 
ably after it had totally disappeared. This sinking into 
the gloom of night, was no bad image of the impenetra- 
ble mystery that has veiled the subsequent proceedings of 
the gallant party on board of her. 

When the Intrepid was last seen by the naked eye, she 
was not a musket-shot from the mole, standing directly 
for the harbor. One officer on board the nearest vessel, 
the Nautilus, is said, however, to have never lost sight of 
her with a night-glass ; but even he could distinguish no 
more than her dim proportions. There is a vague rumor 
that she touched on the rocks, though it does not appear 
to rest on sufficient authority to be entitled to much cred- 
it. To the last moment, she appears to have been ad- 
vancing. About this time the batteries began to fire. — 
Their shot are said to have been directed toward every 
point where an enemy might be expected, and it is not 
improbable some were aimed at the ketch. 

The period between the time when the Intrepid was 
last seen, and that when most of those who watched 
without the rocks learned her fate, was not long. This 
was an interval of intense, almost breathless expectation ; 
and it was interrupted only by the flashes and the roar of 
the enemy's guns. Various reports exist of what those 
who gazed into the gloom beheld, or fancied they beheld ; 
but one melancholy fact alone would seem to be beyond 
contradiction. A fierce and sudden light illuminated the 



45 

panorama, a torrent of fire streamed upward, and a con- 
cussion followed that made the cruisers in the offing 
tremble from their trucks to their keels. This sudden 
blaze of light was followed by a darkness of two fold in- 
tensity, and the guns of the battery became mute, as if 
annihilated. Numerous shells were seen in the air, and 
some of them descended on the rocks, where they were 
heard to fall. The fuses were burning, and a few explo- 
ded, but much the greater part were extinguished in the 
water. The mastj too, had risen perpendicularly, with 
its rigging and canvass blazing, but the descent veiled all 
in night. 

So sudden and tremendous was the eruption, and so in- 
tense the darkness which succeeded, that it was not possi- 
ble to ascertain the precise position of the ketch at the 
moment. In the glaring, but fleeting light, no person 
could say that he had noted more than the material cir- 
cumstance, that the Intrepid had not reached the point at 
which she aimed. The shells had not spread far, and 
those which fell on the rocks were so many proofs of this 
important truth. There was no other fact to indicate the 
precise spot where the ketch exploded. A few cries 
arose from the town, but the subsequent and deep silence 
that followed was more eloquent than any clamor. The 
whole of Tripoli was like a city of tombs. 

If every eye had been watchful previously to the ex- 
plosion, every eye now became doubly vigilant to discov- 
er the retreating boats. Men got over the sides of the 
vessels, holding lights, and placing their ears near the 
water, in the hope of detecting the sounds of even muf- 
fled oars ; and often was it fancied that the gallant ad- 
venturers were near. They never re-appeared. Hour 
after hour went by, until hope itself became exhausted. 
Occasionally, a rocket gleamed in the darkness, or a sul- 
len gun was heard from the frigate, as signals to the boats ; 
but the eyes that should have seen the first, were sight- 
less, and the last tolled on the ears of the dead. 

The three vessels assigned to that service hovered 
around the harbor until the sun rose ; but few traces of 
The Intrepid, and nothing of her devoted crew, could ba 



46 

discovered. The wreck of the mast lay on the rocks 
near the western entrance, and here and there a frag- 
ment was visible nigh it. One of tlie largest of the ene- 
my's gun-boats was missing, and it was observed that 
two others, which appeared to be shattered, were being 
hauled upon the shore. The three that had lain across 
the entrance had disappeared. It was erroneously thought 
that the castle had sustained some injury from the con- 
cussion, though, on the whole, the Americans were left 
with the melancholy certainty of having met with a seri- 
ous loss, without obtaining a commensurate advantage. 

It is now known that the bottom of the ketch ground- 
ed on the north side of the rocks, near the round battery 
at the end of the mole ; and as the wind was at the east- 
ward, this renders it certain that the explosion took place 
in the western entrance to the harbor, and fully a quar- 
ter of a mile from the spot that it was intended the ketch 
should reach. In the wreck were found two mangled 
bodies, and four more were picked up on the 6th, float- 
ing in the harbor, or lodged on the shore. These bodies 
were in the most shocking state of mutilation, and, though 
Com. Bainbridge and one or two of his companions 
were taken to see them, it was found impossible to distin- 
guish even the officers from the men. It is understood 
that six more bodies were found, the day after the explo- 
sion, on the shore to the southward of the town, and that 
a six-oared boat, with one body in it, had drifted on the 
beach to the westward. 

These statements account for all those who went in the 
ketch, and furnish conjectural clues to facts that would 
otherwise be veiled in impenetrable mystery. The spot 
where the boat was found, was a proof that the ketch had 
not got very far into the passage, or the cutter would not 
have drifted clear of the natural mole to the westward. — 
The reason that the boat and the ketch's bottom were not 
found near the same spot, was probably because the first 
was acted on more by the wind, and the last by the cur- 
rent ; and the fact that a boat may have drifted through 
rocks, with which the shore is every where more or less 
lined, that would have brought up the wreck. 



47 

As there was but one body found in the boat, we arc 
left to suppose it was that of the keeper. Of the four- 
oared boat, or that which belonged to the Siren, there does 
not appear to have been any tidings, and it was either 
destroyed by the explosion, sunk by the fall of fragments, 
or privately appropriated to himself by some Tripolitan. 

From the fact of there being but a single man in the 
Constitution's cutter, there is reason to infer that most of 
the officers and men were on board the ketch, herself, 
when she blew up. No person is understood to say that 
any of the enemy's vessels were seen near the ketch, 
when she exploded, and, with these meagre premises, 
we are left to draw our inferences as to the causes of the 
disaster. 

That Captain Somers was as capable of sacrificing 
himself, when there was an occasion for it, as any man 
who ever lived, is probably as true as it is certain that 
he would not destroy himself, and much less others, with- 
out sufficient reason. It has been supposed that the ketch 
was boarded by the enemy, and that her resolute com- 
mander fired the train in preference to being taken. The 
spirit created by the chivalrous exploits of Decatur, and 
the high-toned discipline and daring of Preble, had com- 
municated to all under their orders as lofty sentiments of 
duty and zeal as probably were ever found among an 
equal body of generous and ardent young men ; but it is 
not easy to discover a motive why the explosion should 
have been an intentional act of the Americans, and it is 
easy to discover many why it should not. 

There would be but one sufficient justification for an 
officer's sacrificing himself or his people under such cir- 
cumstances, and that was the impossibility of preventing 
the ketch from falling into the hands of the enemy, by 
any other mean|. Neither the evidence of eye-witness- 
es, so far as it is available, nor the accounts of the Tripo- 
litans themselves, would appear to show, that when the 
Intrepid exploded, any enemy was near enough to render 
so desperate a step necessary. According to the private 
journal of Com. Bainbridge, neither the town nor the 
Turks suffered materially, and he was carried to the 



48 

beach to see the dead bodies on the 8th, or two days after 
the affair. This alone would prove that the ketch did 
not reach the mole. If the object were merely to destroy 
the powder, the men would have been previously order- 
ed into the boats, and, even under circumstances that 
rendered a resort to the fuse inexpedient, the train would 
have been used. That only one man was in the largest 
boat, is known from the condition in which she was found, 
and this could hardly have happened, under any circum- 
stances, had the magazine been fired intentionally, by 
means of the train. Every contingency had doubtless 
been forseen. One man was as able as twenty to apply 
the match, and we can see but one state of things, beside 
being boarded by surprise, that would render it likely 
that the match would have been used until the people 
were in their boats, or that it would have been applied at 
any other spot, than at the end of the train, or aft. A 
surprise of the nature mentioned, would seem to have 
been impossible ; for, though the night was misty, ob- 
jects might still be seen at some little distance, and it is 
probable, also, that the party had glasses. 

Many little collateral circumstances appear to have oc- 
curred, which may be thought to give force to the truth 
of the common impression. One of the best authentica- 
ted of these, is connected with what was seen from a ves- 
sel that was watching the ketch, though it was not the 
schooner nearest in. On board this vessel a light was 
observed moving on a horizontal line, as if carried swift- 
ly along a vessel's deck by some one in hurried motion, 
and then to drop suddenly, like a lantern sinking beneath 
a hatchway. Immediately afterward the ketch explo- 
ded, and at that precise spot, which would seem to leave 
no doubt that this liglit was on board the Intrepid. 

In addition to this appearance of the i^ht, which rests 
on testimony every way entitled to respect, there was a 
'report brought off by the prisoners, then in Tripoli, when 
liberated, from which another supposition has been form- 
ed as to the fate of this devoted vessel, that is not without 
some plausibility. It was taid that most of the bodies 
found had received gun-shot wounds, especially from 



49 

grape. One body, in particular, was described as having 
had the small remains of nankeen pantaloons or it, and 
it was also reported that the hair was of a deep black. 
Through this person, according to the report, no less than 
three grape-shot had passed This has been supposed to 
have been the body of Captain Somers himself, who was 
the only one of the party that wore nankeens, and whose 
hair was of a deep black. On the supposition that the 
proofs of the grape-shot wounds actually existed, it has 
been conjectured that, as the ketch advanced, she was fir- 
ed into with grape, most of her people shot down, and 
that the magazine was touched off by the two whose bod- 
ies were found in the wreck, and who were probably be- 
low when the Intrepid exploded. 

A sad and solemn mystery, after all our conjectures, 
must for ever veil the fate of those fearless officers and 
their hardy followers. In whatever light we view the 
affair, they were the victims of that self-devotion which 
causes the seamen and soldier to hold his life in his hand, 
when the honor or interest of his country demands the 
sacrifice. The name of Somers has passed into a battle- 
cry, in the American marine, while those of Wadsworth 
and Israel are associated with all that can ennoble intre- 
pidity, coolness, and daring. 



CHAP. XL 



Sailing of Gen. Eafon to Alexandria— Co-operation of Hamet Car- 
amallij in the Attack npoii Derne — Success of the Attack — The 
American Colors, for the first lime, floating from a Fortress in 
the Old World— Close of iheTripolilan War. 

It is well known to the readers of naval history, that 
Commodore Barron succeeded Commodore Preble in the 
fall of 1804. Betore his arrival, Mr. Eaton, the Ameri- 
can Consul at Tunis, had well nigh matured a project for 
securing the aid of Hamet Caramalli, the rightful Bash- 
aw of Tripoli, in prose(."uting the war against his broth- 
er, Jessuf Caramalli, who had usurped the throne to 

5 



50 

which Hamet was justly entitled — the latter, after being 
thus deposed, having escaped t>om the regency, and ta- 
ken refuge among th Mamelukes of Egypt. 

Two or three days after Commodore Barron had as- 
sumed the command before Tripoli, he sent the Argus, 
Captain Hull, to Alexandria with Mr. Eaton, where he 
arrived on the 26th of November. On the 29ih, Mr. Ea- 
ton, accompanied by L<ieutenont O'Bannon, of the ma- 
rines, and Messrs. Mann and Danielson, two midshipmen 
of the squadron, proceeded to Rosetta, and thence to Ca- 
iro. The Viceroy of Egypt received them with favor, 
and permission was obtained for the Prince of Tripoli to 
pass out of the country unmolested, though he had been 
fighting against the government, with the discontented 
Mamelukes. 

As soon as Hamet Caramalli received the proposals of 
Mr. Eaton, he separated himself from the Mamelukes, 
attended by about forty follo\vers, and repaired to a point 
twelve leagues to the westward of ihe old port of Alex- 
andria. Here he was soon joined by Mr. Eaton, at the 
head of a small troop of adventurers, whom he had ob- 
tained in Egypt. This party was composed of all nations, 
though Mr. Eaton expressed his belief at the time, that 
had he possessed the means of subsistence, he might have 
marched a body of 30,000 men against Tripoli, the reign- 
ing Bashaw having forced so many of his subjects into 
banishment. Soon after the junction agreed upon, Mr. 
Eaton, who now assumed the title of General, marched 
in the direction of Derne, taking the route across the des- 
ert of Barca. This was early in 1805. 

The Argus had returned to Malta for orders and stores, 
and on the 2d of April, she re-appearcd olf Bomba, with 
the Hoi net 10, Lieutenant Commandant Evans in com- 
pany. Cruising on this coast a few days, without ob- 
taining any intelligence of General Eaton and the Bash- 
aw, Captain Hull steered to the westward, and, a few 
leagues to the eastward of Derne, he fell in with the Nau- 
tilus, Lieutenant Commanant Dent. On communicating 
with this vessel, which was lying close in with the shore. 
Captain Hull ascertained that the expedition was on tho 



51 

coast, and that it waited only for arms and supplies that 
had been brought, to attack Derne, from which town it 
was but a league distant. A field-piece was landed, to- 
gether with some stores and muskets, and a few marines 
appear to have been put under the orders of Mr. O'Ban- 
non, of the corps, when the vessels took their stations to 
aid in the attack. 

It was 2 P. M., on the 27th of April, 1805, that this 
assault, so novel for Americans to be en gapped in, in the 
other hemisphere, was commenced. The Hornet, Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Evans, having run close in, and an- 
chored with springs on her cables, within pistle-shot of a 
battery of eight guns, opened her fire. The Nautilus 
lay a little distance to the eastward, and the Argus still 
further in the same direction, the two latter firing on the 
town and battery. In about an hour, the enemy were 
<lriven from the work, when all the vessels directed their 
guns at the beach, to clear the way for the advance of 
the party on shore. The enemy made an irregular but 
spirited defence, keeping up a heavy fire of musketry, 
as the assailants advanced, from behind houses and walls. 
At half-past 3, however. Lieutenant O'Bannon and Mr. 
Mann stormed the principal work, hauling down the Tri- 
politan ensign, and for the first time in the history of the 
country, hoisting that of the republic on a fortress of the 
old world. The enemy were driven out of this work 
with so much precipitation, that they left its guns loaded 
and even primed. The cannon were immediately turn- 
ed upon the town, and Haraet Caramalli having made a 
lodgm.ent on the other side, so as to bring the enemy be- 
tween two fires, th« place submitted. At 4 o'clock, the 
boats of the vessels, landed with ammunition for the guns 
and to bring off* the wounded, Derne being in complete 
possession of the assailants. 

In this atlair, only 14 of the assailants were killed and 
wounded. General Eaton being among the latter. The 
attack was made by about 1200 men, where the place was 
supoosed to be defended by three or four thousand. One 
or two attempts were made by the Tripolitans, to regain 
possession, but they were easily repulsed, and, on one 



62 

occasion, with some loss. The deposed Bashaw remain- 
ed in possession of the town, and his authority was par- 
tially recognised in the province. General Eaton now 
earnestly pressed Commodore Barron for further supples 
and reinforcements, with a view to march on Tripoli ; 
but they were denied, on the ground that Hamet Cara- 
mallj was in possession of the second province of the re- 
gency, and if he had the influence that he pretended to 
possess, he ought to be able to effect his object by means 
of the ordinary co-operation of the squadron. 

Negotiations for peace now commenced in earnest, 
Mr. Lear having arrived off Tripoli, for that purpose, 
in the Essex, Captain Barron. After the usual intrigues, 
delays, and prevarications, a treaty was signed on the 3d 
of June, 1805. By this treaty no tribute was to be paid 
in future, but $60,000 were given by America, for the 
remaining prisoners, after exchanging the Tripolitans in 
her power, man for man. 

Tlius terminated the war with Tripoli, after an exist- 
ence of four years. It is probable that the United States 
would have retained in service some oflicers, and would 
jiave kept up a small force, had not this contest occurred; 
but its influence on the fortunes and character of the na- 
vy is incalculable. It. saved the first, in a degree at least, 
and it mav be said to hsive formed the last. 



CHAP. XII. 



Release of the American Prisoners by the Tarks— Their Reception 
at Home— Vi>iiing Friends — Preparaiions for Another Voyage to 
the Mediterranean. 

Immediately after the signing of the treaty of peace, 
the American prisoners were set at liberty, after having 
endured the most severe hardships for a little more than 
nineteen months. 

Sailing from Tripoli, we arrived at Syracuse in a ^ew 
days, where we remained for two or three weeks. We 



touched at Gibraltar, where we also remained two or three 
weeks ; after whicli we sailed for America, making the 
passage to the city of Washington in fifty-seven days. 
Our arrival was welcomed by thousands of spectators ; 
and as our feet touched the American soil, our shouts 
were as hearty as any that rose from that vast and hap- 
py throng. Our long beards and Turkish dress, whicli 
we had not changed since our liberation, attracted no 
small degree of attention. 

Oa the fifth day after our arrival, we all marched up 
to the White House, under command of Gen. Eaton, and 
took dinner with the President, Thomas Jefferson. There 
were four hundred and forty-eight of us — our number 
when captured, having been four hundred and fifty two, 
and two having died and two joined the Turks. VV^e 
were escorted by about six hundred marines and several 
uniform companies. The number of spectators on this 
occasion, was computed at twenty-five thousand. That 
we were kindly received by the President, need not be 
added. A number of barbers had been employed by that 
gentlemen to cut our hair and beards, this duty of our 
toilet having now been neglected for about twenty-three 
months. Each man was then provided, at the expense 
of the government, with a new suit of clothes, valued at 
sixty dollars, and each ofiicer with a suit of uniform. — 
We were paid off the same day, each man being allow- 
ed for the time he was a prisoner, and seven dollars per 
month for rations — after which, we were formally dis- 
charged from the service. 

Tiie next day I started for New York, wishing to vis- 
it my family as soon as possible, from whom I had not 
heard during my absence. Without hardly a moment's 
stop at New York, 1 preceded to Westchester county, and 
found my wife in good health. During my absence, she 
had remained with the family in which 1 married her. — 
Our meeting was unexpected on her part, she havino- 
heard of our capture by the Turks, though not of our re- 
lease, and supposing that we all had either died of our 
hardships or been massacred by our captors. 

A short time after this, I purchased a house and lot 
5* 



54 

about four miles from the family of my wife's friends,- 
and eighteen miles from New York. I paid seven hun- 
dred dollars for it, once more determining to quit the sear 
After remaining at home until the following spring, I ob-' 
tained a situation at my aid trade, in the Navy Yard, at 
New York — usually visiting my family at the close of 
each week. I left the Navy Yard in December, for the 
purpose of spending the winter under my own roof. 

Early the next month, (January, 1807,) the entering 
of seamen commenced at New York, for the frigate 
Chesapeake and the sloop of war Wasp, both of which 
vessels had been ordered to the Mediterranean, to relieve 
the Constitution and Hornet, which had been left there 
to keep a look-out, on the ratification of peace with Tri- 
poli. Being in New Y^ork one day, I fell in company 
with some of the officers of the Wasp, with whom I was 
acquainted, and was urged by them to accept the berth of 
carpenter on that vessel. Before leaving the city, and 
of course before my intentions were known to my wife, 
I entered for two years. The Wasp was to take despatch- 
es to England, after which she was to join the Chesa- 
peake at Gibralter, whence both vessels were to proceed 
to the Mediterranean. The first officers of the Wasp 
were John Smith, commander, and Messrs. McDonough, 
Downs, Page and Henry, first, second, third and fourth 
lieutenants. 

I did not inform my wife that I had entered the Navy 
again, until a short time before 1 was to join the vessel, 
which was the first of April. I commenced furnishing 
her with provisions and fire wood for a year ; and these 
are what fii*st excited her suspicions. She wished to 
know my object, and I was obliged to tell her what I had 
done. She was opposed to my going to sea again ; but 
by telling her that we were at peace with all nations, and 
that there was neither any prospect of fighting nor dan- 
ger of my being taken by the Turks again, she very re- 
luctantly yielded her assent. 

At that time we had a son about four months old. In 
order that my wife might not be left entirely without com- 
pany or aid, 1 employed a girl about ten years of age to 
remain with her until my return. 



55 

About the 10th of April, we were ordered to join our 
vessel at Washington, where she was built. She had nev- 
er been to sea, and this was to be her first voyage. Leav- 
ing with my wife about three hundred dollars and a half- 
pay ticket, as before, I proceeded to Washington, accor- 
ding to orders. 



CHAP. XIII. 

Sailing for the Mediterranean — Capture of the Chesapeake by the 
British Frigate Leopard — Arrival in the Mediterranean — " Home-' 
ward Bound" — A Gale-^Narrovv Escapes — Arrival at Boston — 
Cruise off the American Coast until the year 1811. 

On the 21st of April, the Wasp dropped dawn the riv- 
er to Norfolk, Virginia, and after taking in her sea stores, 
weighed anchor for England on the 10th day of June.— 
We got under way about two hours before the Chesa- 
peake, and dropped down to Cape Henry, about eighteen 
miles, with a light breeze. We sailed along side the Leop- 
ard, of 50 guns, a British ship that was lying at anchor 
there, and receiving from her officers a package of let- 
ters to carry to England, stood on our course for our des- 
tined port. 

The Leopard and the frigate Leander, of 36 guns, a 
sloop of war of 16 guns, and a cutter of 10 guns, all 
British vessels, had for some time been cruising off Cape 
Henry, watching the movements of a French frigate, 
then lying at Norfolk — England and France being at war 
at that time. These vespels had chased the French frig- 
ate from Toulon, in the Mediterranean; and it being known 
that she had seven million in specie on board, the Eng- 
lish were particularly anxious to possess themselves of it. 

About two-thirds of the crew of the Leander, were 
American seamen, who had been impressed into the Eng- 
lish Navy. There had been, a short time before, a mu- 
tiny on board the Leander, and the Americans had made 
their escape. None of the British officers, however, had 



56 

been killed ; they liad merely been confined until the es- 
cape could be efFected. Two of the American seamen 
who thus escaped, had entered on board the Chesapeake, 
before her sailing. One of them had a wife and five 
children in Baltimore, and the other a wife and seven 
children in Philadelphia. They had served in the Brit- 
ish Navy, after being impressed, about four years. 

The Commander of the Leopard had ascertained that 
these men were on board the Chesapeake, and when that 
vessel came up with the cape, a small boat from the Leop- 
ard was sent along side, and their surrender demanded. 
Commodore Barron replied, that he had no British sub- 
jects on board. The boat then returned. After she reach- 
ed the Leopard, Commodore Barron was enabled to dis- 
cover by the aid of a glass, that that vessel was prepar- 
ing for an attack. The Commodore made all the prepa- 
ration in his power for a defence ; but as no matches were 
ready, and the loijrgerheads could not soon be heated, he 
was in a sorry condition to meet the enemy. The Leopard 
soon came up and fired a division of guns, by which the 
rigging and sails of the Chesapeake were considerably 
damaged. An attempt v/as now made to fire the guns of 
the Chesapeake; but the loggerheads were not hot enough 
to burn the priming. The Leopard by this time gave a 
full broadside, killing and wounding nineteen. Commo- 
dore Barron being among the wounded. That gentle- 
man was anxious that one gun at least should be fired 
from his vessel ; and after succeeding in getting off one, 
he hauled down his colors. 

A boat was immediately sent to the English Comman- 
der, who was informed that the Chesapeake was at his 
disposal. He answered, that he did not desire the ship, 
his only object being to secure the two deserters. He 
accordingly went on board and took the two men. 

When this engagement took place, the Wasp was about 
two miles distant. We immediately put about, and stood 
for the combatants. At the time the Chesapeake hauled 
down her colors, we were only four or five miles distant. 
Had she made us a signal when she first discovered that 
the Leopard meditated an attack, we might have render- 



57 

ed her timely assistance. Though but a sloop of war, our 
hundred and eighty men and sixteen 32 pound carron- 
ades and two long 18's, might at least have kept the Ches- 
apeake's colors flying a little longer. 

Commodore Barron held a council with his officers, and 
they agreed to return to port. The expense of her re- 
pairs, was fourteen thousand dollars. 

After parting with the Chesapeake, we stood on our 
course for England, and made sight of Landsend on the 
fourteenth day. We were here becalmed, and did not 
reach Falmouth until fifteen days afterward. We were 
quarantined at Falmouth for forty days. During this time, 
we had considerable sickness on board, as, in fact, we had 
for most of the voyage, having lost eleven of our men 
from distempers and one by being knocked overboard. — 
We then sailed to Spit Head, near Portsmouth, under a 
quarantine flag, where we weie also quarantined for for- 
ty days. 

Having remained about two weeks at Portsmouth, we 
took in a supply of provisions, and set sail for Loraine, 
in France. We were here subjected to a quarantine of 
forty days, soon after the expiration of which time we 
weighed enchor for Gibralter. In crossing the Bay of 
Biscay, we met with a severe gale, and lost five men 
overboard. On arriving at Gibralter, we found the Con- 
stitution there. She iniormed us that she had received 
orders to return home, and that all of our vessels were to 
leave that station, there being the prospect of difficulties 
with England, without she should m ike restitution for the 
damage she had done the Chesapeake. We were order- 
ed to sail up the Mediteranean and find the Hornet, and 
inform her that she was wanted at home. We proceed- 
ed to Malaga, Syracuse, Malta, Fez, and Tunis, in search 
of her, but were unable to get on her track. Supposing 
that she might soon visit some of those ports, we left or- 
ders in all of them, for her return to the United States. 
We then returned to Gibralter, where we found the Con- 
stitution waiting for us, in company with which vessel we 
soon afterward sailed for home. 

On our voyage we experienced the most severe gale 



58 

I was ever in. It continued for tliree days and three nights. 
We took in every inch of sail we could, and were obli- 
ged to cut away otliers. Barren, however, as our masts 
were, we run for most of the time at the rate of four- 
teen knots per hour. We were frequently under the ne- 
cessity of lashing ourselves to the rigging, to prevent our 
being washed away. On the second or third day, when 
Lieut. M'Donough was at the wheel, a sea struck the wea- 
ther quarter, and sweeping him forward to the main-mast, 
carried him over the lee gun way. Fortunately, the end 
of a loose piece of rigging caught him with a half-hitch 
around one of his ancles, the other end of the rigging 
being fast. He was soon discovered, some thirty or for- 
ty feet from the side of the vessel, a part of the time un- 
der and a part of the time above the water, and hauled 
on board, in a state of great exhaustion. During the gale 
I had rather a narrow escape. I had been sent alot't to 
aid in launching the fore top-gallant mast ; and as I was 
standing on the top-sail yard, with one hand hold of the 
yard rope, while the men below were swaying the yard, 
the rope broke, and I fell backward, landing, after the 
descent of about forty-five feet, in the bunt of the fore 
sail. Had I missed the bunt, I should have struck the 
deck, some fifty feet farther. As it was, the injury I re- 
ceived was trifling. 

Both the Wasp and the Constitution arrived at Boston 
on the forty-second day after leaving Gibralter. 

A short time after our arrival in Boston, we sailed for 
New York, where we arrived on the 25th day of Janua- 
ry, 1808. We soon afterward I'eceived orders to repair 
and cruise off the coast, the embargo having been laid on 
the preceding Christmas. 

While the Wasp was repairing, I paid my family a vis- 
it. My arrival was unexpected to my wife, the term for 
which I had enlisted having little more than half expired. 
As the remainder of the term would be served on the 
American coast, she appeared much more reconciled at 
parting with me again. We sailed about the tirst of 
March for Passamaquoddy, our orders being to cruisa 
from that point to New Orleans. We remained upon the 



59 

coast until fall, and then returned to New York to make 
repairs preparatory to our winter's cruise. At the expi- 
ration of five or six weeks, we put to sea again, cruising 
for most of the time to the soulliward. The next spring 
we returned to New York again, and gave our ship, rig- 
ging, and sail thorough repairs. During the three months 
these repairs were making, I spent the most of my time 
with my family. My two years having now expired, 1 
enlisted again, and continued on board the Wasp until 
1811. Captain Jones now took command of that vessel, 
and she was sent to England with despatches. 

The winter of 1811 I spent with my family, and work- 
ed the following season in the Navy Yard at New York, 



CHAP. XIV. 



War between the Unired State? and Great Britain — Sailingof the 
Frigate Uniled Siaie- — Capiure of ihe IVlacedonean — Return to 
New York with the Prize — Reception — Put to Sea again — Loss of 
the President. 

War was declared between the United States and Great 
Britain, in the month of June, 1812. I once more en- 
tered the Navy. I very well knew that we now had an 
enemy to face of great skill and experience, and one 
who could rally a powerful array of ships and men ; but 
I considered tliat the Yankees were at least able to stand 
before any force equal to their own. I knew, too, that 
Commodore Decalur, under whom 1 was to serve, had had 
his skill and mettle well tried, when with the Turks, and 
I felt quite as safe under his command as T should under 
that of any other officer in the American Navy. 

Commodore Decatur had the command of the frigate 
United States, of 44 guns. We put to sea, in company 
with two or three other vessels, early in October, in search 
of the enemy. On Sunday, the 25th of that month, hav- 
ing parted with the other vessels, we discovered a large 



60 

sail to the southward and eastward. We were then in 
lat. 29 N., long. 29, 30 VV. The stanger was running 
down a little free, vvliile the United States was on a wind, 
standing toward the chase, which was soon ascertained 
to be an enemy. The latter having come within a league 
hauled up, and passed to windward, wlien each party was 
enabled to see that it had a frigate to oppose. The stran- 
ger now wore and came round on the some tack as the 
United States, keeping away sufficiently to get within 
reach of her long guns, when she hauled up on an easy 
bowline, with her mizzen-topsail aback. At this moment 
the distance between the two ships a little exceeded a mile, 
when the Englishman opened his fire. Finding his ene- 
my on his weather quarter, Commodore Decatur deliver- 
ed his larboard broadside, wore round, and came up to 
the wind on the other tack, heading northerly. It was 
observed that all the cannonade-shot fell short, the ene- 
my doing very little injury by his fire. 

Having passed her antagonist, the United States deliv- 
ered her starboard broadside, and wore again, bringing 
her head once more to the southward, or on the same tack 
as the enemy, both ships steering rap full, with their miz- 
zen-topsails aback, and keeping up a heavy cannonade. 
In this manner the action continued about an hour, the 
English vessel suffering heavily, while her own fire in- 
flicted very little injury on us. At length the stranger's 
mizzen-mast came down over the lee quarter, having been 
shot away about ten feet above the deck. He then fell 
off, and let his foresail drop, apparently with a wish to close. 
As the ships got near together, the shot of our vessel did 
feartlil execution, the fore course being soon in ribands, 
the fore and main top-masts over the side, the main-yard 
GUI away in the slings, and the foremast tottering. The 
United States now filled her mizzen-topsail, gathered fresh 
way, and tacked. As the stranger was drifting down, 
nearly before the wind, and was almost unmanageable, 
Commodore Decatur had no difficulty in heading up high 
enough to cross his wike, which he handsomely effected, 
with his people still manning the larboard guns. At the 
time the United States filled her mizzen-topsail, in prep- 



61 

aration for stays, it is said that the enemy, under the im- 
pression she was about to run away, gave three cheers, 
and set a union jack in his main rigging, all his other 
flags having come down with the several spais. When, 
however, as the enemy saw our ship luffing up to close, 
the jack was lowered, and resistance ceased. 

As the United States crossed the stern of the English 
ship, the firing having ceased on both sides, she hailed 
and demanded the name of her antagonist, and whether 
she had submitted. To the first interrogatory. Commo- 
dore Dscatur was answered that the ship was the Mace- 
donian 38, Captain Garden, and to the second, that the 
vessel had struck. On taking possession, the enemy was 
found rearfully cut to pieces, having received no less than 
a hundred round shot in his hull alone. Of three hund- 
red men on board him, thirty-six were killed, and sixty- 
eight wounded. 

The Macedonian was a very fine ship of her class, 
mounting, as usual, 49 guns ; eighteens on her gun-deck, 
and thirty-two pound carronades above. She was small- 
er, of ligliter armament, and had fewer men than the 
United States of course, but the disproportion between 
the force of the two vessels, was much less than that be- 
tween the execution. In this action, the advantage of 
position was with the British ship until she was crippled, 
and the combat was little more than a plain cannonade, 
at a distance that rendered grape or musketry of little or 
no use, for the greater part of the time. The fire of the 
United States took effect so heavily in the waist of her 
antagonist, that it is said the marines of the latter were 
removed to the batteries, which circumstance increased 
the efficiency of the ship, by enabling new crews to be 
placed at the guns that had been once cleared of their 
men. On the other hand, our marines remained dravrn 
up in the waist of our ship, most of the time quite use- 
less, though they exhibited the utmost steadiness and good 
conduct under the example of their gallant commander, 
the weight of the enemy's fire passing a short distance 
above their heads. 

The United States suffered surprisingly little, consid- 
6 



62 

ering the length of the cannonade, and her equal expo- 
sure. She lost one of her top-gallant masts, received 
some wounds in the spars, had a good deal of rigging cut, 
and was otherwise injured aloft, butnvas hulled a very 
few times. Of her officers and people five were killed 
and seven wounded. Of the latter, two died, one of 
whom was Mr. John Musser Funk, the junior lieutenant 
of the ship. No other officer was hurt. 

On taking possession of our prize. Commodore Deca- 
tur found her in a state that admitted of her being taken 
into port. When the necessary repairs were completed, 
the two ships made the best of their way to America ;. 
Commodore Decatur discontinuing the cruise, in order to 
convoy his prize into port. The United States arrived 
off New London on the 4th of December, and about the 
same time the Macedonian got into New Port. Shortly 
after, both ships reached New York by the way of Hell 
Gate passage. 

We arrived as far as Cow Bay, on the 28th day of De- 
cember, I think, where we lay at anchor until the 1st day 
of January. About 3 o'clock on the morning of that day, 
the tide and wind being favorable, we came into New 
York with the Macedonian as a New Year's Gift, the 
star-spangled banner proudly waving over the British 
cross. We anchored between the North Baitery and 
Governor's Island, and fired a number of grand salutes, 
which were answered from the Battery. Our vessels 
soon becoming thronged with spectators, Commodore De- 
catur was compelled not only to deny admittance to any 
more, but to send ashore those on board, and to put back 
to the Navy Yard. 

An invitation was soon afterward received by tlie Com- 
modore and his officers and crew, to repair to the City 
Hall, to receive at least a slight manifestation of the grat- 
itude of the people toward them, for their capture of the 
Macedonian. The invitation was accepted, as a matter 
of course. At the appointed hour, the steam ferry boat 
came along side, with the officers of the corporation, a 
number military officers, and two bands of music. As 
we landed at the North Battery, we were honored by 



63 

a grand salute, and received the welcome of thousands of 
spectators. A procession was formed, and we marched 
up to the City Hall, which was filled to overflowing. We 
even found it difficult to elbow our way through the streets, 
so dense was the throng. The colors taken from the 
Macedonian, with the star-spangled banner and the Amer- 
ican eagle floating above them, occupied a prominent 
position in the procession. At the City Hall a short and 
appropriate address was delivered by the Mayor of the 
<;ity ; and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we sat down 
to a sumptuous dinner. In the evening we attended the 
theatre, where we saw the engagement between the Uni- 
ted States and the Macedonian, which had been dramati- 
zed, re-enacted. We received permission to tarry in the 
city until the next day, when we returned to our ship. 

During the time our vessel was repairing for sea again, 
1 remained with my family. We were ready for anoth- 
er cruise early in March, and sailed for New London, 
Sandy Hook at the time being blockaded by the British. 
We made the passage of Hell Gate, and arrived at New 
London, where the United States and Macedonian were 
blockaded for the remainder of the war. 

Commodore Rodgers having left the President, in the 
summer of 1814, to take command of the Guerriere, 
Commodore Decatur was transferred to the former ship. 
In the month of November, Commodore Decatur had a 
force consisting of the President 44, his own ship. Pea- 
cock 18, Captain Warrington, Hornet 18, Captain Bid- 
die, and Tom Bowline store vessel. His destination was 
the East Indies, where it was thought great havoc might 
be made with the valuable trade of the English. 

Owing to different causes, but principally to the wish 
of the government to keep a force at New York to resist 
the depredations of the enemy. Commodore Decatur did 
not get to sea until the middle of January, 1815. The 
President dropped down to Sandy Hook alone, leaving 
the other vessels lying at Staten Island, and on the night 
of the 14th, she made an attempt to cross the bar. In 
consequence of the darkness, the pilots missed the chan- 
nel and the ship struck j beating heavily on the sands, 



64 

iov an hour and a half. About ten o'clock the tide had 
risen to its height, and she was forced into deep water. 
Although the vessel had received considerable injuFy, it 
was impossible to return, and a strong blockading force 
being in the offing, it became necessary to carry sail to 
get off the coast betore morning. It had blown a gale 
the previous day, "and Commodore Decatur, rightly judg- 
ing that the enemy had: been driven to leeward, decided 
to run along the land to the northward and eastward, as 
the best means pf avoiding a greatly superior force. — 
This determineefion was judicious, and, had not the de- 
tention occurred on the bar, it would have been complete- 
ly successful. After running oiFin a northeastern direc- 
tion for about five hours, the course of the ship was al- 
tered to S. E. by E. Two hours later, a strange sail was 
discovered ahejxd> within gun-shot, and two others being 
soon after seen, the President hauled up and passed to the 
northward of them all. At daylight, four ships were 
seen in chase, one oji each quarter and two astern. The 
nearest vessel was believed to be the Majestic rasee, which 
fired a broadsid#^§^two, in the hope of crippling the 
x\merican frigate as she passed, but widiout efifect. It is 
now known, that the enemy had been wiven down to the 
southward by the gale^and that he was just returning to 
his station, when this unlucky encounter occurred. 

The chase continued throughout the forenoon, the wind 
becoming lighter and baffling. The rasee was dropped 
materially, but the next nearest ship, the Endymion, 40, 
a twenty-four pounder frigate, had closed, and as the Pres- 
ident was very deep, being filled with stores for a long 
cruise. Commodore Decatur commenced lightening her. 
Unfortunately the commander, all the lieutenants, and 
master were strangers, in one sense, to the ship ; most of 
them never having been at sea in her at all, and neither 
in any responsible situation. The duty of lightening a 
ship in chase, is one of the most delicate operations in sea- 
manship, and it ought never be attempted except by those 
perfectly acquainted with her lines, trim and stowage. — 
Half a dozen more water casks emptied at one end of the 
vessel than at the other may injure her sailing, and the 



65 

utmost care is to be observed lest the indiscretion of infe^ 
riors in the hold, defeat the calculations of the comman- 
der on deck. On the other hand, Commodore Decatur 
decided to undertake this delicate operation under the 
most favorable circumstances that a want of familiarity 
with his ship would allow, as the wind was getting to be 
light, and was nearly aft. 

ft is not known, however, that the sailing of the Pres- 
ident was at all injured by the process of lightening, for 
the enemy obtained a material advantage by a change in 
the wind. While it was still light with the American 
ship, the British, about 3 P. M., were bringing down 
with them a fresh breeze. Soon after, the Endymion, 
the nearest vessel, having got within reach of shot, open- 
ed with her bow guns, the President returning the fire 
with her stern chasers. The object of each, was to crip- 
ple the spars of the other. It is said, that on this occa- 
sion, the shot of the President were observed to be thrown 
with a momentum so unusually small, as to have since ex- 
cited much distrust of the quality of her powder. It is 
even added, that many of these shot were distinctly seen 
when clear of the smoke, until they struck. 

By 5 P. M., the Endymion had got so far on the star- 
board, or lee quarter of the President, that no gun of the 
latter would bear on her, without altering the course. — 
The fire of the English ship now became exceedingly 
annoying, for she was materially within point blank 
range, and every shot cut away something aloft. Still it 
was borne, in the hope that she would range up along side, 
and give the President an opportunity to lay her aboard. 
Finding, however, that the enemy warily kept his posi- 
tion by yawing, in the hope of gradually crippling us, 
Decatur decided on a course that singularly partook of 
the daring chivalry of his character. 

It v^as evident that the sailing of the President was 
much impaired, either by injuries received on the bar, or 
by the manner in which she had been lightened, and es- 
cape by flight had become nearly hopeless. Commodore 
Decatur, therefore, determined to make an effort to ex- 
change ships by carrying the Endymion, hand to hand, 

6* 



66 

and to go off in the prize, abandoning his own vessel to 
the enemy. With this object in view, he determined to 
keep away, lay the enemy aboard, if possible, and put 
every thing on the success of the experiment. The plan 
■was communicated to the people, who received it cheer- 
fully, and just at dusk, the helm of the President was put 
up, bringing the wind over the taffrail, the ship heading 
south. But she was so closely watched, that the Endy- 
mion kept away at the same moment, and the two ships 
soon came abeam of each other, when both delivered 
their broadsides. The President's attempts to close, how- 
ever, were defeated, for the vessels were about a quarter 
of a mile apart, and as she hauled nearer to the enemy, 
the latter sheered away from her. Without a superior- 
ity in sailing, it was impossible for Commodore Decatur 
to get on board his enemy, while the latter chose to avoid 
him, and he was now reduced to the necessity of attempt- 
ing to get rid of the Endymion by dismantling her. The 
two frigates, consequently, continued running off dead 
before the wind, keeping up a heavy cannonade for two 
hours and a half, when the Endymion was so far injured 
that she fell astern, most of her sails having been cut 
from the yards. The President, at this moment, was un- 
dei her royal studding sails, and there is no doubt, by 
choosing her position, she might have easily compelled 
her adversary to strike ; but, by this time, though the 
night was dark, the vessels astern were in sight, and she 
was obliged to resume her original course to avoid them. 
In doing this, the President hauled up under the broadside 
of her late antagonist, without receiving any fire to injure 
her. 

It was now half past eight, and the President continu- 
ed to run off southeast, repairing damages, but it was 
found impossible to prevent the other vessels of the ene- 
my from closing. At 11 P. M., the Pomone 38, got on 
the weaf ler bow of the President, and poured in a broad- 
side ; and as the Tenedos, of the same force, was fast 
closing on the quarter, and the Majestic was within gun- 
shot astern, further resistance was useless. Commodore 
Decatur had ordered his people below, v/hen he saw the 



67 

two last frigates closing, but finding, that his signal of 
submission was not at first understood, the Pomone con- 
tinuing to fire, an order was given for them to return to 
their guns, when the enemy ceased. The Majestic com- 
ing up before the removal of Com. Decatur, that officer de- 
livered his sword to her captain, who was the senior En- 
glish officer present. The officer then asked Commodore 
Decatur, *• To which vessel do you surrender "?'' To 
which the Commodore replied, "I do not surrender to 
any single vessel of equal force, but to the British squad- 
ron.'' 

The President lost twenty-four men killed, and fifty- 
six wound. She was a good deal injured in her hull, and 
most of her important spars were badly damaged. By 
one of those chances which decide the fortunes of men, 
among the slain were the first, fourth and fifth lieuten- 
ants. The Endymion had eleven killed, and fourteen 
wounded, according to the published reports ; but those 
reports were not correct, as we ascertained at Bermuda 
that her killed and wounded amounted to eighty. 

The President was carried to Bermuda, and both she 
and the Endymion v/ere dismasted in a gale, before reach- 
ing port. The latter also threw overboard her upper 
deck guns. Commodore Decatur was shortly after parol- 
ed, and he and all his surviving officers and men,, were 
subsequently acquitted, with honor, for the loss of the 
President. 



CHAP. XV. 

Termiaation of the War — Superiority of the American Navy — Re- 
turn of American Prisoners from Bermuda, 

The war was terminated not long after this action. 
The navy came out of this struggle with a vast increase 
of reputation. The brilliant style in which the ships had 
been carried into action, the steadiness and rapidity with 



63 

Vhlch they had been handled, and the fatal accuracy of 
their fire, on nearly every occasion, produced a new era 
m naval warfare. Most of the frigate actions had been 
as soon decided as circumstances would at all allow, and 
in no instance was it found necessary to keep up the fire 
of a sloop of war an hour, when singly engaged. Most 
of the combats of the latter, indeed, were decided in about 
half that time. The execution done in these short con- 
flicts was often equal to that made by the largest vessels 
of Europe, in general actions ; and in some of them, the 
slain and wounded comprised a very large proportion of 
the crews. 

It is not easy to say in which nation this unlooked-for 
result created the most surprise ; America or England. 
In the first it produced a confidence in itself that had been 
greatly wanted, but which, in the end, perhaps, degenera- 
ted to a feeling of self-esteem and security that was not 
without danger, or entirely without exaggeration. The 
last was induced to alter its mode of rating, adopting one 
by no means as free from the imputation of a want of con- 
sisitency as that v/hich it abandoned, and it altogether 
changed its estimate of the force of single ships, as well 
as of the armaments of frigates. The ablest and bravest 
captains of the English fleet were ready to admit that a 
new power was about to appear on the ocean, and that it 
was not improbable the battle for the mastery of the seas 
would have to be fought over again. In short, while 
some of the ignorant, presuming and boastful were dis- 
posed to find excuses for the unexpected nautical revers- 
es which Great Britain had met with in this short war, 
the sagacious and reflecting saw in them matter for seri- 
ous apprehension and alarm. They knew that the for- 
mer triumphs of their admirals had not so much grown 
out of an unusual ability to manoeuvre fleets, as in the 
national aptitude to manage single ships ; and the}^ saw 
the proofs of the same aptitude, in the conduct of the 
Americans during this struggle, improved on by a skill 
in gunnery, that had never before been so uniformly man- 
ifested in naval warfare. In a word, it maybe question- 
ed if all the great victories of the last European conflicts 



69 

caused more exultation among the uninstructed of that 
nation, than the defeats of this gave rise to misgivings 
and apprehensions among those who were able to appre- 
ciate causes and to anticipate consequences in a matter so 
purely professional as the construction, powers, and 
handling of ships. 

Many false modes of accounting for the novel charac- 
ter that had been given to naval battles was resorted to. 
Among other reasons, it wfts affirmed that the American 
vessels of war sailed with crews of picked seamen. That 
a nation which practiced impressment, and had six thou- 
sand five hundred American seamen in Dartmouth prison 
during the war, who were impressed, should imagine that 
another whose enlistments were voluntary, could possess 
an advantage of this nature, shows a strong disposition to 
listen to any means but right ones, to account for the 
truth. 

It is not known that a single vessel left the country, the 
case of the Constitution on her two last cruises excepted, 
with a crew that could be deemed extraordinary. No 
American man-of-war ever sailed with a complement 
composed of nothing but able seamen ; and some of the 
hardest fought battles that occurred during this war, were 
fought by ships' companies that were materially worse 
than common. The people of the vessels on Lake Cham- 
plain, in particular, were of a quality much inferior to 
those usually found in ships of war. Neither were the 
officers, in general, old or very experienced. The navy 
itself had existed but fourteen years, when the war com- 
menced ; and some of the commanders began their pro- 
fessional careers, several years after the first appoint- 
ments had been made. Perhaps one half of the lieuten- 
ants, in the service at the peace of 1815, had gone on 
board ship, for the first time, within six years from the 
declaration of the war, and very many of them within 
three or four. So far from the midshipmen having been 
masters and mates of merchantmen, as was reported at 
the time, they were generally youths that first quitted the 
ease and comforts of the paternal home, when they ap- 
peared on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war. 



70 

That the tone and discipline of the service were high, 
is true ; but it must be ascribed to moral, and not to phys- 
ical causes ; to that aptitude in the American charac- 
ter for the sea, which has been so constantly manifest- 
ed from the day the first pinnace sailed along the coast 
on the trading voyages of the seventeenth century, down 
to the present moment. 

An exchange of prisoners Jiaving been made, we ar- 
rived in New York on the 17th day of February, 1815. 
The next day intelligence of the ratification of peace was 
received, and on the following evening the city was illu- 
minated. The troops formed a procession and marched 
through the city under arms, with a candle in the muzzle 
of each musket ; and continued thus marching until the 
candles burnt out. The procession and spectators num- 
bered, according to estimate, seventy-five thousand. 

In about a week after this, we were paid off' and dis- 
charged. My prize money amounted to three hundred 
and sixty-two dollars and fifty cents, the carpenter and 
the petty officers always being entitled to a share and a 
half — while the commodore receives fourteen shares, and 
the lieutenants six. I soon afterward returned to my 
family in Westchester county. 



CHAP. XVI. 

Difficulties with Algiers — Sailins: of the American Squadron, and 
its Arrival off Algiers — Skirmishes with the Enemy — Terms of 
Treaty dictated to the Dey — Peace— Arrival Home — Death of 
four Children. 

Most of the American cruisers having been withdrawn 
from the Mediterranean during the war with England, 
the Dey of Algiers commenced depredations upon the 
few that remained in or near that sea. Determined to 
inflict a salutary punishment upon the Dey, Congress, on 
the 2d day of March, 1815, passed an act, authorizing 
hostilities to be commenced against hira. 



71 

Eighteen vessels were put under the command of Com" 
modore Decatur, and ordered to get ready for sailing 
some time during the month of I\Iay following. The flag 
ship was to be the Guerriere, rated at 44 guns, but carry- 
ing 54. She was a new frigate, having been built in 
1814. I re-entered for this vessel, which, of course, was 
to carry out Commodore Decatur, under whom I had so 
long served. 

The squadron sailed from Norfolk for the Mediterra- 
nean about the 20th of May. On our arrival at Algiers, 
that port was immediately blockaded. A number of the 
vessels of the enemy were captured, and others driven 
ashore and abandoned. In an engagement between some 
of our vessels and those of the enemy, the Algerine Ad- 
miral was slain. 

Soon after this, Commodore Decatur offered to treat 
with the enemy ; but they refused to give up the Amer- 
ican prisoners in their possession unless the United States 
would pay them a high sum and a yearly tribute. An-, 
other attack upon the city was therefore resolved upon 
by our Commodore, if more favorable terms of treaty 
could not be obtained. He accordingly collected all his 
cruisers, and running into the harbor, came to anchor 
within musket shot of the batteries — springs being attach- 
ed to our cables, so that we could bring our guns to bear 
in any direction we chose. The Commodore then sent a 
flag of truce on shore, with word that he would give the 
Dey thirty minutes to sign the proposals which had been 
drawn up ; and that in case of his refusal so to do, the 
city should be leveled with the ground. The Dey return- 
ed the flag, requesting Decatur to come on shore. The 
flag was sent back to the Dey again, accompanied with 
a hint that the time allowed him had nearly expired. The 
Dey hastened on board. Decatur told him that, accord- 
ing to the articles of treaty, he was required to liberate 
kis prisoners, of all nations, and to pay for the damage 
he had done the American vessels, and allowed the Brit- 
ish to do to those within his jurisdiction. The Dey repli- 
ed that he could not pay America ; for if he did, other 
nations would make the same exaction of him. He con- 



72 

sented, however to accede to the terms proposed, if Amer- 
ica would send him a few barrels of powder yearly, in- 
asmuch as he did not manufacture the article himself. 
Beside, this would prevent other nations from making an 
unconditional demand upon him for the damage he had 
done their shipping. Commodore Decatur's reply was, 
" You can have the powder, but you must have balls with 
it." The Dey, having seen enough of American balls, 
immediately attached his signature to the treaty. 

The difficulties with Algiers having thus been adjusted, 
we set sail for home. On arriving at Gibraltar, we found 
Commodore Bainbridge with eighteen vessels, one of 
which was the Independence 74, the first line-of-battle 
ship ever sent from the United States. The Independence 
was Commodore B.'s (lag ship, and bore his broad pen- 
nant. That officer immediately upon our arrival, order- 
ed Commodore Decatur to liaul down his pennant from 
the Guerriere, and his vessels lojoin his (Commodore B.'s) 
squadron ; but Decatur refused doing so, saying that he 
had worn his pennant at the mast head of the Guerriere 
from the time of his leaving America, and should return 
home with it flying from tb.e same place. Decatur add- 
ed, that he had completed the work for which he had 
been sent to the Mediterranean, without the assistance of 
Bainbridge or his vessels ; but still, if that officer had ar- 
rived before peace had been made, he should have .given 
up the command to him. 

We soon set sail for the United States, where we arri- 
ved in November, 1815. We v/ere paid off and discharg- 
ed, and the shipping laid up, the United States being then 
at peace with all nations. 

I returned to my family in Westchester county, and 
remained with them until the following spring. I then 
commenced work in the New York Navy Yard, and con- 
tinued there until fall, when I sold my house and lot, and 
removed to Duchess county, where 1 purchased a small 
farm, and again commenced the coopering business. I 
found business very good ; the country was rich and de- 
lightful ; my preferences for the water were one by one 
removed by the domestic happiness with which I was sur- 



rounded ; and I was equally rejoiced at the change both 
in my pursuits of life and in my location. But I was 
soon called upon to drink deeply of the cup of affliction. 
The small pox, which had been for some time commit- 
ting its ravages in the neighborhood, reached my little 
circle, secure as I had supposed it to be ; and in the course 
of one week, the four youngest of my five children fell 
victims to that disease. Reader ! are you a parent 1 And 
have you watched, day by day, and night by night, over 
the couches of the little ones whom God had given you, 
and seen them waste gradually away, under sufferings the 
most severe, and sink, one after another, into the cold 
embrace of death ? It were needless, then, for me to at- 
tempt, by the use of language, a description of the har- 
rowings of soul I experienced at a loss so sudden — so 
overwhelming. 

In the village of Poughkeepsie, about one hundred and 
fifty died of the same disease. It created quite as much 
panic in that section, as the cholera did in 1832. 

I remained with my family in Duchess, working at my 
trade and doing a little at farming, about six years. 



CHAP. XVII. 

Difficulties with the Pirates— Sailing of the Squadron to ch8stit.e 
them — Descripiion of Key West — Capture of a number of Pirati- 
cal Vessels — Execution of One Hundred and Forty-Five Pirates 
— Return Home. 

Being in New York, early in January, 1823, I as- 
certained that a squadron was fitting out for the West 
Indies, to chastise the pirates, who had been for some 
time committing serious depredations upon the American 
merchant vessels. Commodore Porter, who was the first 
lieutenant of the Philadelphia, at the time of her capture 
by the Turks, insisted upon my enlisting and going out 
with him to Key West, which was to be the head-quarters 
of the squadron. I agreed to do so. I returned home to 

7 



74 

inform my wife of my intentions, and to make the ne- 
cessary arrangements for the convenience of my family 
during my absence. 

On arriving at New York I found Commodore Porter 
nearly ready for sail ing. Most of his vessels were at Nor- 
folk, where we soon proceeded to join them. The Com- 
modore had recently purchased a small steamboat that 
had for some time plied between New York and Cow Bay, 
on Long Island ; and the squadron consisted of this boat, 
which carried fifty men and six brass pounders, and eight 
small schooners, each of about 80 tons burthen, and car- 
rying one long 18 pounder, two 12 pound carronades, 
and thirty-six men, including ofRcers ; also, two larger 
schooners, the Shark and Grampus, each of 14 guns, 
and the Decoy, a store ship in disguise, carrying sixty 
men and eight 12 pounders. 

We sailed from Norfolk for Key West in April, and 
made the passage in eighteen days. The only building 
on the Island was a small house which had been built 
and occupied by the pirates. Key West lies on the edge 
of the Bahama banks, and is about ninety miles from 
Havana, (Cuba, j and about the same distance from Ma- 
tanzas. 

We landed twelve pieces of cannon, and threw up the 
breastwork of a small fort for the protection of our stores, 
when our vessels might be cruising. We had timber, 
framed and ready for putting up. sent out for four or five 
buildings. These were soon raised and inclosed. One 
of them we used for a hospital, one for a store house, and 
the others for dwellings. They were to be guarded, du- 
ring the absence of the squadron, by one captain, one 
lieutenant, and twenty-five marines. There was no wa- 
ter on the island, and at first we were under the necessi- 
ty of bringing all we used from Cuba. After the erec- 
tion of our buildings, we attached cisterns to them, and 
caught nearly as much water as was wanted ior drinking 
and culinary purposes. We soon afterward received 
materials for, and erected, some fifteen or twenty addi- 
tional buildings, as also shops for carpenters, coopers. 



75 

and blacksmiths, rigging and sail lofts, &c. We soon 
had quite a Navy Yard and a convenient harbor for small 

vessels. 

We also built twelve barges, each being propelled by 
sixteen or eighteen oars, and carrying a number of small 
arms and one seven-barrelled blunderbuss, each barrel of 
which carried twelve musket balls. These barges drew 
about three feet of water. 

Not long after our arrival at Key West, we one day 
discovered a schooner of three guns, and containing a 
crew of about seventy pirates. We gave her chase, but 
fihe soon ran aground about fifty rods from the shore. All 
the pirates made their escape with the exception of five, 
who could not swim. These we secured. We got the 
schooner off without much damage to her cargo, which 
consisted principally of merchandise. She also had on 
board about sixty thousand dollars in specie. The pi- 
rates whom we captured, were executed. 

Soon after this, we drove another piratical schooner 
ashore, the crew of which numbered sixty or seventy, all 
of whom made their escape. 

On the 4th of July, 1824, while we were lying at Ma- 
tanzas, a vessel came in and informed us that there was 
a piratical schooner down some thirty miles to the lee. 
ward of that place. Four of our vessels, (two schoonerg 
and two barges,) wore lying at Matanzas at the time 
having just arrtved there from a cruise around the island 
of Cuba. We immediatel}'' set sail for the pirate. The 
wind being ahead, the barges rowed close in along shore, 
while the schooners had to beat to the windward. I was 
on board one of the barges, both of which outran the 
schooners. 

On arriving in sight of the piratical schooner, we found 
her lying at anchor in a bay, near three merchant ves- 
sels that she had calculated upon plundering the follow- 
ing night. Captain Watson commanded the eighteen 
oar barge, and Lieutenant Bainbridge the sixteen. They 
were at a loss whether to attack the pirate or not. She 
carried one long 18 pounder and two 12 pound carron- 



76 

ades, and seventy-two men. Captain Watson finally 
concluded that he would take her by boarding, to which 
we all agreed. 

The Captain then gave orders to Lieutenant Bainbridge 
to run under the starboard quarter of the pirate, and re- 
serve his fire until the signal was given— while the Cap- 
tain was to run his barge under her starboard bow. I 
was stationed forward at the blunderbuss, on Captain W.'s 
barge. We ran within pistol shot of the pirate, when 
she fired her 18 pounder upon us. The gun was loaded 
with grape and canister shot, but we were so near, the 
charge fortunately passed over our heads. Captain W. 
then gave orders to fire. We fired our blunderbuss and 
muskets, killing about one-half of the pirates. One of 
our barges boarded the starboard side of the pirate, and 
the other the larboard, at the same time, and found little 
difficulty in obtaining possession of her. 

Those of the pirates who could swim, jumped over- 
board and attempted to gain the shore, but one of the 
barges pursued and killed all of them before they reach- 
ed the shore, with one exception, and he was shot down 
immediately upon leaving J;he water. Those who did 
not jump overboard, were, of course, secured. Thus 
of the seventy-two pirates, not one escaped to tell the 
fate of his comrades. 

We took our prize in tow, and had got fairly out of the 
bay before the schooners came up. We 'ascertained our 
prize to be a merchant schooner that had been cut out of 
Matanzas about two weeks before our taking her, well 
loaded with provisions. These having been disposed of, 
her cargo, when we captured her, consisted principally 
of merchandise which liad been plundered from other ves- 
sels. We took her to Key West, and in taking out her 
cargo, we found stowed away between the timbers and 
limber plank, about one hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
lars in gold and silver. The schooner was returned to 
lier owners, and the pirates taken on board of her, nine 
in number, executed by order of Commodore Porter. 

During the time we were at Key West, our squadroa 



77 

captured about twenty small boatsbelongingtothe pirates; 
but the principal part of their crews generally succeeded 
in making their escape. 

I was on board the schooner Tarrier, commanded bj'' 
Captain Rose, during one of her cruises around the isl- 
and of Cuba. About 8 o'clock one morning we spied a 
sail close in to the land. We had a good sea breeze, 
but the stranger was becalmed. We stood for her, but 
when within four or five miles of her, became becalm- 
ed also. We then manned our sweeps, the Tarrier car- 
rying eighteen of 32 feet. The stranger, whose crew 
we discovered to number some sixty or seventy, also man- 
ned her sweeps. Her force was so strong, we saw 
there was but little prospect of gaining upon her, and had 
to content ourselves by giving her a few of our 18 pound 
shot, but they did not reach her. We.then determined 
to give her a chase, and applying ourselves to our oars, 
pursued her until about 10 o'clock at niglit, when the 
shade of the land hid her from our view. We ran dovv^n 
the land to Cape Antonio, without again seeing her. We 
concluded we had passed her during the night. A breeze 
springing up in the morning, we returned back, and in 
the afternoon discovered her in tow of an English schoon- 
er. The previous night, while this schooner was lying 
in a bay at the Isle of Pines, the pirate put in and came 
to anchor. The vessels did not discover each other un- 
til day light, when an action took place betvv'een them. 
There was not much damage done on either side. The 
pirates, knowing full well that death would be their 
portion were they captured, fired their vessel, and as 
many of them as could, made their escape. The fire, 
however, was extinguished by the English before it had 
done much damage. We learned that the vessel had 
two hundred thousand dollars in gold and silver on board, 
and regretted that we had not been her captors. 

Soon after this, a British brig of 14 guns and eighty 
men took a piratical schooner of 22 guns and about three 
hundred men. The engagement lasted six hours. One 
hundred and twenty-five pirates were taken alive, the re- 
mainder having been killed. All of those who were ta- 
7* 



78 

ken, I saw hanged in one day, at Kingston, Jamaica. 
The execution commenced at 10 o'clock in the morning, 
and lasted until about 4 in the afternoon. Twenty-five 
were hanged at a time. The impression made upon my 
mind at seeing so many of my fellow beings, reprehensi- 
ble as their pursuits must have been, thus hurried, pre- 
pared or unprepared, into the presence of their Maker, 
can never be obliterated. 

The pirates now being generally subdued in the vicin- 
ity of Key West, Commodore Porter sailed with most of 
Ihs vessels to the Spanish main, to route some living there 
in a cave. These had three pieces of cannon placed at 
the mouth of the cave ; but they all fled when we landed, 
with the exception of an old Spaniard, covered with rags 
and scars, and supposed to be one hundred years of age. 
We secured the -cannon and a considerable amount of 
property. 

Leaving three vessels to watch the pirates, and a com- 
pany of marines to guard Key West, we sailed for New 
York in the summer of 1826. Our Captain, Francis F. 
Gamble, died on the passage, off Cape Hatteras, of the 
yellow fever. 



CHAP. XVIII. 

More of Death's Doings—Leave the Navy— Misfortunes— A Tour 
to the West — Orleans County House. 

Shortly after my arrival in New York, I proceeded to 
Duchess county, and found that death had again visited 
my family. Its victim was my wife. She had died 
about three months previously. Though my eldest and 
two youngest children were left me, a sensation of lone- 
liness gradually stole upon me, which the varied scenes 
of seventeen years have not yet overcome, and which 
death alone can remove. That I was not reconciled to 
this afflictive dispensation of Providence, must be attribu- 
ted to an unsanctified heart. I could not then subscribe 



79 

to the doctrine that God dealt in mercy by all His crea- 
tures, else I should have kissed the rod that so sorely 
chastised me. 

Upon the death of my wife, her sister removed into 
my house, to take charge of the two youngest of my chil- 
dren — one a daughter, in her sixth year, and the other a 
son about three years of age. My oldest child, a son, 
then about twenty years of age, had some time previous- 
ly entered the navy, where he yet remains, if alive. I 
have not heard from him for about two and a half years, 
at which time he was at the Key West station, and held a 
lieutenant's commission — the vessels at that station being 
under the command of Commodore Shaw, an uncle of 
mine. 

I entered into an agreement with my sister-in-law, by 
which she was to take care of my two youngest children 
until they should become of age, and give them a good 
education; in consideration of which, I deeded her my, 
house and lot. My wife's clothing were also to be pre- 
served for my daughter until she should become of age. 

I then settled up my business, and went to New York. 
Learning that the sloop of war Concord, Captain Ballard, 
was about sailing for the East India station with despatch- 
es to the American vessels there, I entered for the service. 
We sailed in September, 1826, and had a pleasant voy- 
age. After remaining there until November, 1827, we 
set sail for New York, which poit we made the following 
January. 

Leaving the navy, I returned home, and found anoth- 
er vacant seat around my hearth — my youngest child 
having died in my absence. I soon afterward started for 
Troy, where I worked at the coopering business about 
six months. I then went to Oneida county, and remain- 
ed there nearly two years, after which I paid my daugh- 
ter a visit. I afterward returned to the western part of 
this Slate. In 1832, whilst in Cayuga county, I was af- 
flicted with the inflammation of the eyes. They soon be- 
came so bad, that I was unable to work. I remained in 
this condition about two years. 1 had about five hundred 
dollars when this affliction first came upon me ; but as it 



80 

was rapidly disappearing, by the payment of my board- 
ing house and doctors' bills, without any relief being ex- 
perienced, I concluded to go to New York, and place 
myself under the care of Drs. Rogers and Delafield. — 
Their bill for board and professional services, was two 
dollars and fifty cents per week. After remaining there 
fifteen months, I so far recovered my sight as to be abb 
to work at my trade. 

On leaving New York, I went to Herkimer, on tha 
Mohawk, and after working tliere six or eight months, 
went to Buffalo. Not being pleased with the place, I 
started for the east again. Having readied Orleans 
county, about the first of October, I was seized with the 
fever and ague, and my means becoming exhausted, I 
was obliged, much against my will, as the reader may 
well imagine, to go lo the County House. This was in 
1836. 

Recovering my health, in a good, measure soon after- 
'ward, I commenced work, and being well acquainted with 
tools, the keeper wic-hed me to remain. As winter was 
near at hand, I concluded to remain until spring, know- 
ing that my labor would prove at least an equivalent for 
my expenses. My health being rather poor in the spring, 
I was offered a small salary to work in the shop and the 
keeper's garden until fall. 

The keeper and his family were very kind to. me, ta- 
king the best care of me when sick. I always had 
enough to eat and to drink, and that of a wholesome qual- 
ity. Those of the inmates who conducted themselves 
orderly, were treated with humanity ; but those who 
were disorderly, it became necessary to punish, that the 
discipline of the institution might be preserved. 

The following January, I had the misfortune to break 
my ankle, directly above the joint ; and was unable to 
labor until about the first of April. The superintendents 
now determined upon building a cow house, twenty-two 
by sixty feet, and a shed, fifteen by thirty-six leet, and 
offered me the job. Though I had never laid out a build- 
ing, I accepted the offer and went to work. Being oblig- 
ed to use a crutch, I labored under great disadvantages, 



81 

and could not accomplish more than half as much as I 
should, had I the free use of both of my legs. By the 
time the buildings were raised, however, I was able to 
walk without the use of my crutch, and succeeded in in- 
closing them before harvest. The labor on the buildings 
was valued at one hundred and fifty dollars. 

The next fall the superintendents offered to give me 
fifty dollars to purchase coopers' tools with, if I would 
work for them through the winter, on tubs and pails. I 
accepted the offer, and worked until spring. They then 
agreed to furnish me with stock, if 1 would give them 
one-half of the proceeds of the sales, and pay one dollar 
per week for my board. T commenced in March, and by 
the first of January, the sa'es of my work amounted to 
three hundred dollars. Soon after this, my health be- 
came feeble, and I was confined to my bed for fourteen 
weeks. After recovering it, I commsncei work, which 
I continued until August, when I finally left the institu- 
ion. 



CHAP. XIX. 

A Visit to Michiaf.m — Sickness — Return to Rochester — Monroe Co. 
House — Kind Treatment from all connected with the Institution. 

Wishing to see my daughter and a sister, who had 
about two years previously removed to the vicinity of 
Grand River Rapids, Michigan, I determined to pay them 
a visit. I started about the first of September. This 
was in 1840. I had two sets of good tools, one for pat- 
ent work and the other for oak work, and money enough 
to bear my expenses. On my arrival in Michigan, I 
learned, very much to my disappointment, that my daugh- 
ter had removed to Illinois, about six hundred miles dis- 
tant. Having an acquaintance in Northville, Wayne 
county, I proceeded to that place, and after hiring a shop 
and getting out a stock of timber, went to work. I was 
goon afterward taken sick, and was not able to work anjr 
that winter. 



82 

The next spring, finding my health stil! poor, I sold 
my tools, and started for the east. I stopped in this (Mon- 
roe) county, and after being here until September, find- 
ing that 1 was failing with old age and ill health, I was 
obliged to go to the County House ; and I bless my Ma- 
ker, as the reader will soon discover I have abundant rea- 
sons for doing, that He ever directed my footsteps to that 
institution. 

I was able at that time to labor a few hours each day 
at light work. I always found enough to do, and did not 
require driving to do it. In Joshua Tripp, Esq., the keep- 
er, I found a gentleman of humanity, and a christian. — 
His family were very attentive to my wants, and soon 
won my affection by the kindness that marked all their 
intercourse with me. I never stood in need of any thing, 
when sick or well, that they did not furnish me, if it were 
in the house ; nor do I remember of their ever using a 
harsh word toward me. The family are what they pro- 
fess to be — christians. They set good examples before 
the inmates of the house ; and I verily believe they "do 
to others as they would be done by." 

There are always more or less in every institution of 
this sort, who will not obey its rules, and must therefore 
be punished. There are others, again, who will find fault 
if they are used ever so well. I believe, however, that 
those who make the loudest complaints of ill usage, are 
among the ignorant of other nations, who do not know 
when they are well treated. 

I am satisfied that the inmates of the Monroe County 
House can take as much comfort as people in general. — 
Their labor is not hard, their living is good, their cloth- 
ing decent, their lodgmgs comfortable, and when they are 
sick, they have a i)hysician and kind nurses. There is 
preaching on the Sabbath for their especial benefit, and 
schools where their children may be educated. If, under 
such circumstances, they are not happy, they have no 
one to blame but themselves. Their meat, their bread, 
their milk, and their butter, are the same as those used 
in the family of the keeper. They are not confined to 
any particular kind of food, and can generally have any 



83 

thing which an appetite not vitiated, usually craves. In- 
deed, I doubt whether one half of the people either in 
the city or country, live as well as the inmates of this in- 
stitution, 

I cannot, in justice to my own feelings, conclude this 
chapter, without bearing teslimony to the good will which 
the superintendents have ever manifested toward me. — 
Mr. Thompson, in particular, has extended to me various 
offices of kindness, which can never be forgotten. 



CHAP. XX. 



Indisposition — Convicted of Sin — A Dream — Conversion — Union 
with God's People — Fruits of the Revival. 

About the first of January last, I took a violent cold, 
which soon settled upon my lungs. I became very much 
reduced, and considered it doubtful whether I should ever 
recover. 1 was troubled with a severe cough, and a pain 
in my breast and side. 

A new minister (the Rev. Mr. Brooks) commenced 
preaching at the County House about that time. The 
first sermon I had heard on the Sabbath for about forty 
years, was by Mr. B. Wlien a young man, I had found- 
ed my hope on Universal Salvation, which doctrine I ad- 
hered to for about twenty years. I afterward became a 
believer in Restoration. Still, there were some doubts 
in my mind, and my conscience was not at ease. After 
hearing the sermon spoken of, I became convinced that 
my doctrines were not fuuuued upon the Bible, and that 
if I died in the condition I was then in, 1 should forever 
be miserable. The plain, pungent truths presented by 
Mr. Brooks, by showing me the wickedness of my heart, 
gave me great uneasiness for some days. 

Mr. Tripp and his family, leannng my state of mind, 
invited me one morning into their apartment to attend fara- 



84 

ily worship. I joyfully accepted the invitation. During 
their devotions, prayers were offered for me, but the load 
upon my mind still remained. 

In addition to preaching on the Sabbath, prayer meet- 
ings were held three or four evenings each week. Most 
of these meetings I attended. Some two weeks after the 
sermon alluded to, several of the inmates became con- 
victed of their sins. For my own part, I found no relief. 
My sins weighed heavily upon my mind, and I almost des- 
paired of ever seeing the smiling face of my Savior. — 
I had long been a sinner, paying little heed to the warn- 
ings and advice I had received in early life ; and I fear- 
ed that God's Spirit could strive with me but little longer. 

I remained in this situation about three weeks, when, 
one night, I had a very pleasant dream. It appeared to 
me that I was at the Isle of Patmos, in the Mediterrane- 
an. I was lying on my back, in the bottom of a small 
sail boat, and bad a white covering over me, resembling 
a sheet. With the exception of a light swell that gent- 
ly rocked the boat, there was a perfect calm upon the 
water. As far as the eye could extend, I beheld thous- 
ands of boats around me, with one person in each, and 
with a covering similar to my own. They all wore a 
pale though a contented countenance, and not a word was 
uttered by any of them. 

During this vision, 1 was in a most happy state of mind 
and body ; but when I awoke, I found my pain as severe 
as ever. In relating this vision to Mr. Tripp the next 
morning, he gave the following interpretation: The 
boat represented the ark of safety ; the white covering, 
Christ's robe of rigliteousness ; and the people, the . 
saints in heaven. 

For a week or two after this, I continued very unhap- 
py. I had about given up all hopes of obtaining a for- 
giveness of my sins. I had sinned against my own light 
and knowledge, and thought myself beyond the reach of 
mercy. These fears, at one of our Tuesday evening 
meetings, particularly oppressed me. I knelt down and 
attempted to pray, but regarding my prayer as that of the 
wicked, I thought it could never prevail with God. The 



85 

christians present gave me many words of encourage- 
ment, and besought me not to relax my intercessions.— 
They afterward wrestled mightily with God in my be- 
half, and I have reasons for believing that their effort^ 
were not in vain. 

I retired to bed about 11 o'clock that night. After be- 
ing racked both with pain of body and mind for two or 
three hours, I renewed my supplications at the throne of 
grace ; and, blessed be God, he granted a listening ear, 
and spoke peace to my soul ! The doubts and fears with 
which I had long been ground to the very dust, were now 
dispelled, giving place to a tranquility of mind never be- 
fore experienced. Old things seemed to have passed away, 
end all things appeared new. 

But I need not attempt an expression of my feelings — 
my pen, equally with my tongue, is incompetent to the 
task. Those only who have experienced the goodness 
of God in the forgiveness of their sins, and have had their 
hearts for the first time warmed with love to Him, can 
appreciate my feelings at the time. I felt as though I 
had entered upon another voyage, under a new Comman- 
der ; and resolved, through His help, to remain with him 
during life, not doubting that if I served him as faithful- 
ly as 1 had the old commander under whom I had served 
for seventy-two years, and who had at last cast me off 
upon the cold charities of the world, I should at the end 
of life's voyage, be landed in the haven of rest, where 
neither want nor suffering is known. 

Since that night, I have taken more real comfort than 
I had before during the whole of my life ; and my pray- 
er to God now is, that I may remain faithful unto the end, 
and that He m&y grant me grace so to live that I may 
not bring a reproach upon His cause, nor hazard the safe- 
ty of my own soul. 

About the first of March, I received the ordinance of 
baptism at the Second Baptist Church in Rochester, and 
about the twentieth of that month, received the right hand 
of fellowship, as a member of the church. 

I may remark in this connection, that between the first 
of January and the first of May, of this year, about one 

8 



86 

hundred aad thirty-five united upon the profession of their 
taith with the Second Baptist Church, and about the same 
number with the First Baptist Church. There have al- 
so been great accessions to most of the other churches, 
of different denominations, in the city — the past winter 
having been remarltable for the copious ouipouring of 
God's Spiritin this vicinity. Of the inmates of the Coun- 
ty House, some twenty-five profess to have passed from 
death unto life, and a number of backsliders have been 
reclaimed. There are also many now under conviction. 
Oh ! that they might realize the truth of the declaration 
of God, that His Spirit "shall not always strive with 
man," and whilst it is called to-day, ground their wea- 
pons of rebellion, and make their peace with Him. 



CHAP. XXL 

'rhe Oid Ship Zioa — Her Commander, Ciew, Regulations, Desli- 
nation, &c. 

The reader has already been informed, that for many 
years of my life I have sailed in different ships and under 
different Commanders. I shall devote the last chapter of 
this work to a description of the ship on board of which 
I am now sailing, and expect to sail during the voyage of 
life. 

The old Ship Zion is a trustworthy vessel. Though 
she has sailed for many years, her timbers are sound, her 
spars, rigging and sails are good, and her anchors and 
cables are sure. 

Her destined port is recommended as one of surpass- 
ing beauty, and as possessing a safe anchorage. 

The same Commander who first sailed her, continues 
to sail her still. His name is Jesus Christ. The vessel 
is not, however, fully manned, and is continually beating 
UD for volunteers, to whom a great bounty is offered, even 
life everlasting. All classes of people— old and young; 



87 

lame, halt and blind j male and female — who will com- 
ply with the rules and regulations of the ship, are invited 
to lake passage. 

The Commander is an able Physician, and can cure 
all diseases. He has not only given sight to the blind, 
and made the lame and halt leap for joy, but he has even 
cured those possessed of the devil. 

The rules and regulations of the ship you may peruse 
at your leisure, on shore. You will find them in the New 
Testament. 

The labor on board is easy. It is necessary, howev- 
er, to watch continually, and keep a good look-out, for 
fear of running afoul of the enemy ; and young recruits 
must often be drilled, to make good soldiers of them, and 
to enable them to fight successfully the fight of faith. 

The crew neither hunger nor thirst, nor are they in 
want of clothing ; for they are supplied with the bread 
of life and the pure waters of salvation, and are clothed 
with Christ's righteousness. 

There are but few deserters, and most of these, after 
finding neither peace nor comfort on shore, penitently 
return and sue for forgiveness upon the bended knees of 
ther souls. 

May God bless all of you who are out of this good old 
ship ; and may you all be induced to enter on board be- 
fore she finally pushes off from the shore, and is beyond 
your reach. 



011 463 767 1 ^ 



